Andy Burnham has pledged his administration will be relentless in reducing the number of people arriving in the UK on small boats.
Speaking in Dover, the prime minister said the government was making progress and has altered its overall approach, with the number of enforcement officers targeting people‑smuggling gangs doubled on both sides of the Channel.
He said the public want the issue addressed and stressed the need to create safe, legal routes for those in genuine need — a measure he argued would undercut the people‑smugglers’ business model.
Political attention on the UK’s migration policies intensified after tens of thousands of migrants crossed into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta this week. Burnham noted that around 98% of those who reached the African territory had been returned to Morocco, which he said had managed the immediate situation.
The prime minister pointed to wider questions about the Schengen area and the UK’s relationship with it, and said he would seek regular dialogue with the EU on those matters.
The Home Office recently announced that the number of National Crime Agency officers working against smuggling networks has risen to almost 800, up from 376 at the start of 2025. Burnham said French enforcement numbers have also roughly doubled.
Asked about the tone of public debate, he said he wants to focus on practical solutions rather than partisan point‑scoring. He added that people are concerned when the border appears uncontrolled, and argued the government must both restore effective control and provide support for those who genuinely need it.