Hundreds more small boat migrants arrive during Andy Burnham's first week as Prime Minister than first seven days of Sir Keir Starmer's premiership, it emerges, piling pressure on new PM to break his silence on immigration

Published: 15:51, 26 July 2026 | Updated: 15:51, 26 July 2026 Hundreds more small boat migrants have arrived during Andy Burnham’s first week as Prime Minister than the first seven days of Sir Keir Starmer’s premiership, it emerged today. Another 240 migrants have arrived in Kent after illegally crossing the Channel this weekend, meaning at least 881 have arrived during Mr Burnham’s first seven days as PM. By contrast, in the seven days from July 5, 2024, which was Sir Keir’s first day in the job, there were 546 arrivals. His record is also much worse than former Tory PM Boris Johnson, with just 35 arrivals during his first seven days in the job in July 2019. It piled pressure on Mr Burnham to break his silence over immigration and get a grip, having failed to once mention what his plans are during several public appearances. This is despite the issue topping voters’ concerns in repeated polls. He has so far talked about unfunded commitments to lower household energy bills, cap bus fares and unveiled his No10 North building – branded a ‘gimmick’ by critics. He is also planning speeches next week on overhauling the social care system, youth unemployment and devolving more power away from Westminster to regions. But the public remains in the dark about his plans to secure Britain’s borders. Migrants scramble on board an inflatable boat off the beach at Dunkirk, before attempting to cross the English Channel on Saturday  These were among 240 migrants thought to have made it to Britain on Saturday by small boat after launching off the coast of Dunkirk  Another 240 migrants arrived in Kent after illegally crossing the Channel over the weekend, meaning at least 881 arrived during Mr Burnham’s first seven days as PM  It comes after it emerged that migrants are suspected of fleeing to Britain on a boat this week after stabbing a man to death on a French beach. Police launched an investigation after a body was found on Terminus Beach in the popular seaside resort of Berck-sur-Mer on Thursday, the same day a ‘mega-dinghy’ carrying a record 165 migrants crossed the Channel. It also emerged this week that Iran has been attempting to infiltrate Britain by sending agents with links to Tehran’s intelligence agencies on boats across the Channel. Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said: ‘Andy Burnham has spent all his time making a second home for himself in Manchester at taxpayer expense, while the invasion of Britain continues. ‘Over 200,000 illegal migrants have arrived by boat [since 2018] and he did not even mention immigration in his first speech as PM. ‘Only Reform will secure our border and deport all illegal migrants.’ Party leader Nigel Farage added: ‘Andy Burnham is putting the British people in danger by letting Iranian terrorists into our country.’  Today it was reported that witnesses to the French beach stabbing said the victim, believed to be in his 20s, was attacked in dunes by other migrants. French authorities are trying to identify him and establish where he was from as he had no documents. The stabbing is thought to have happened at dawn on Thursday. A French investigation source told The Sun on Sunday: ‘There was a fierce argument, and fighting. A young man was stabbed by at least one attacker. ‘A knife was close to his dead body in the afternoon, many hours later. ‘By this time it is believed those responsible got on a boat and escaped to England.’ The National Crime Agency (NCA), dubbed ‘Britain’s FBI, has been alerted and is talking to French counterparts. Today the NCA also said it has charged a teenage small boat migrant for allegedly piloting Thursday’s ‘mega-dinghy’. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage added said Andy Burnham was 'putting the British people in danger by letting Iranian terrorists into our country' while failing to mention immigration  Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said 'the invasion of Britain continues' under Andy Burnham  Sudanese national Chan Mathok Atak, 19, is accused of endangering another during a journey by sea to the UK. Atak, from South Sudan, has been remanded in custody and will appear at Margate Magistrates’ Court tomorrow. The number of people aboard the vessel broke the previous record set earlier this month when 128 people crossed from France to the UK in one boat. More than 77,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel since Labour's election victory in July 2024. Since records began in 2018, more than 200,000 have arrived. While the number of arrivals so far this year – more than 13,000 – is over 40 per cent down on last year, experts believe crossings could get going again. This week, 172 migrants arrived on Wednesday, 366 the day after, 103 on Friday and 240 on Saturday. Today there have been much stronger winds across the Channel, which it is understood has prevented further crossings so far. A Home Office spokesman said: ‘Removals of small-boat migrants are at record levels and asylum claims down by 12 per cent.’