Labour seem to think that praying for bad weather's good border security strategy...

LABOUR has been ridiculed for blaming record migrant crossings on better weather in the Channel.

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Some 11,074 asylum seekers reached UK waters in small boats from January to April, a surge on the 7,567 a year ago.

The Home Office's excuse was a rise in so-called red days when crossings are far more likely. But the claim was branded "pathetic".

Suella Braverman, Tory former Home Secretary, said: "The only option that Labour have left is to shamelessly do a rain dance to try and stop the illegal flow of migrants into our country. It shows how they are out of ideas and how out of control our border has been since they scrapped the Rwanda deterrent." Chris Philp, the current Shadow Home Secretary, said: "The Labour Government seems to think that praying for bad weather is a good border security strategy.

"This is a weak Government, with no plan to end illegal immigrants crossing the Channel. They should never have cancelled the Rwanda removals deterrent. That's why 2025 is the worst year in history for illegal crossings not the weather." Mr Philp added: "Blaming the weather for the highest-ever crossing numbers so far this year is the border security equivalent of a lazy and feckless student claiming 'the dog ate my homework'. This is a clear fail for our weak Prime Minister and his weak Home Secretary." Reform UK MP Lee Anderson said: "The Conservatives left us with open borders and Labour has only made things worse." The Home Office said there have been 60 red days this year, after the 27 recorded in 2024.

Alarmingly for ministers, a report warned that 65% of crossings happen in the second half of the year, prompting fears of another imminent surge.