Mahmood: No 'silver bullet' for problem of small boats

THERE is no guarantee that the number of small boat crossings will fall by this time next year, the Home Secretary has said.

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Shabana Mahmood told MPs the number of crossings is “unacceptable”, but she said there is no “silver bullet” and the problem needs “long-term, careful, painful work” to resolve.

More than 65,000 migrants have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister.

The Government continues its effort to clamp down on people smuggling gangs and others helping migrants to make the journey.

Sir Keir announced during his trip to China that he had negotiated a deal with the Chinese authorities aimed at preventing boat motors from ending up in the hands of people smugglers.