'Our border crisis is now worse than ever...this is a national emergency'

FURIOUS MPs have called on PM Sir Keir Starmer to recall Parliament over the Channel migrant “national emergency”.

- By Michael Knowles

They spoke out after the number of illegal arrivals eclipsed 25,000 in record time.

On Wednesday, 898 migrants — an average of 70 people per dinghy — were intercepted on 13 boats.

It takes the total number so far this year to 25,436 in 432 boats...the first time the milestone has been reached in July. Last year that figure was passed on September 22, and on October 2 in 2023.

Former Tory work and pensions secretary Esther McVey MP said yesterday: “This is a national emergency. The public will not take much more of this and MPs need to be recalled to Parliament to sort out this mess once and for all.”

Frustration is also beginning to boil over among seafarers navigating the Channel.

On one occasion, a P&O Ferries ship was asked to alter its course as a French navy vessel shadowed a migrant dinghy.

The exasperated P&O captain asked the navy vessel: “That is the same dinghy we reported when it was on the beach in Calais about two hours ago?”

His French counterpart responded: “Yes, it may be the same, yes.”

The UK’s Border Force was overwhelmed on Wednesday by smugglers launching waves of dinghies towards our shores.

Lifeboat crews were scrambled to intercept some of those crossing amid “chaotic” scenes in the Dover Strait. The shocking annual arrivals toll this year equates to 120 every day...or one every 12 minutes.