Migrant crossings milestone unacceptable, says minister

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

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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 that have been put in place will eventually 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 between 2007 and 2009.