Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD

Go Unlimited with Magzter GOLD

Get unlimited access to 10,000+ magazines, newspapers and Premium stories for just

$149.99
 
$74.99/Year

Try GOLD - Free

Migrant crossings milestone unacceptable, says minister

Burton Mail

|

August 13, 2025

A FORMER home secretary has said it is “unacceptable” that 50,000 migrants are set to have crossed the Channel since Labour came to power last year - as she blamed the previous Conservative government for allowing gangs to become entrenched.

Baroness Jacqui Smith of Malvern, who is now an education minister, admitted it is a challenge for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, but she believes initiatives in place will bring numbers down.

Official figures from Monday suggested 49,797 had crossed in small boats from northern France. However the figure is expected to pass 50,000 when updated official data is released.

Lady Smith returned to government last year, having served as home secretary for two years during Gordon Brown’s premiership.

MORE STORIES FROM Burton Mail

Burton Mail

Wales stars demand answers

RUGBY Wales’ players want clarity on their future and have given Welsh rugby bosses a deadline of February 6 to provide it - the day before their Six Nations Championship opener against England.

time to read

1 mins

January 23, 2026

Burton Mail

Burton Mail

Injuries take toll before Leek visit

RUGBY UNION

time to read

1 mins

January 23, 2026

Burton Mail

Burton Mail

Paying for all those lies?

YOURS FAITHFULLY? ■Claudia and the hopefuls this series

time to read

2 mins

January 23, 2026

Burton Mail

Plans for GP surgery on new estate are scrapped

DEVELOPERS WILL INSTEAD PAY TOWARDS 'EXISTING PRACTICES'

time to read

1 mins

January 23, 2026

Burton Mail

I am 75 but feel like the baby of the show

The Death in Paradise gang returns. Sarah Morgan finds out more from show favourite Don Warrington

time to read

2 mins

January 23, 2026

Burton Mail

Matt aiming to dig deep with skeleton

World champion Matt Weston will lead a five-strong team of British skeleton athletes to next month's Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina.

time to read

1 min

January 23, 2026

Burton Mail

Ofwat grilled as water firms appear to evade bonus bans

MPs have criticised water companies appearing to evade bans on bosses' bonuses as they grilled Ofwat about preventing payments from parent firms.

time to read

2 mins

January 23, 2026

Burton Mail

Brewers show fight in defeat at Lincoln

JAKE Beesley starred again with another goal but Burton Albion lost 2-1 away at promotion-chasing Lincoln City in an entertaining game.

time to read

3 mins

January 23, 2026

Burton Mail

Burton Mail

Iran's warning to US

IRAN’S foreign minister issued the most direct threat yet against the United States after Tehran's bloody crackdown on protesters, warning the Islamic Republic will be “firing back with everything we have if we come under renewed attack”.

time to read

1 mins

January 23, 2026

Burton Mail

Luke calls time on England role

Luke Wright is stepping down from his role as England men's selector as the changes continue following England's troubled Ashes tour.

time to read

1 min

January 23, 2026

Listen

Translate

Share

-
+

Change font size