Baby among 221 Channel migrants

A total of 221 people in five small boats crossed the Channel to the UK on Friday, according to the Ministry of Defence.

A baby dressed in pyjamas and wearing a life vest was among those to have made the crossing, along with several groups of men and another young boy wrapped in a blanket.

The Home Office said it had appointed an independent panel to oversee the plan to send migrants to Rwanda. Home Secretary Priti Patel signed what she described as a “world-first” agreement with Rwanda, but the first deportation flight – due to take off on June 14 – was grounded amid legal challenges.

The total number of people to have made the Channel crossing so far in 2022 has now risen to 25,264.