The number of migrants crossing the Channel is set to reach 40,000 despite Rishi Sunak’s pledge to stop them, it was reported.
According to predictions by the UK’s Border Force, under a worst-case scenario a record 55,000 migrants could even undertake the journey, delivering a blow to the Prime Minister’s vow to “stop the boats”.
Since entering No 10 Downing Street last October, Mr Sunak has come under intense pressure from MPs, councillors and campaigners in his own Conservative Party to stamp out illegal immigration.
Mr Sunak has made tackling migrant Channel crossings one of his five key pledges and new legislation to deal with the issue, the Illegal Migration Bill, is making its way through parliament.
While he claimed in last month that his plan to stop small-boat Channel crossings is “starting to work”, new figures from the UK’s Border Force show he appears to still have a long way to go.
The Border Force has three scenarios. The medium-case scenario, which has been shown to the most accurate, predicts the total number of crossings for this year will be 40,000, slightly down from 45,755 last year, The Times reports.
But while worst-case scenario has been downgraded from 80,000 to 55,000, that figure would still represent a record number of crossings.
Figures show that record 3,824 migrants crossed the Channel in June, about a fifth higher than the 3,140 that arrived in the same month last year.
The figures come after the Illegal Migration Bill suffered a string of defeats during its passage through the House of Lords and Mr Sunak's plan to deport migrants to Rwanda was dealt a blow by an appeal court ruling.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: “We remain committed to stopping the boats and to do that we need to make clear that if you come here illegally you will be removed to a safe country.
“We have to break the cycle to deter people from making these dangerous journeys, being exploited by gangs.
“That's what the bill is designed to do. It was voted through by the Commons and we remain committed to defending it robustly.”
So far this year 11,434 migrants have crossed in small flimsy boats. This figure is down by 10 per cent, although July, August and September were the busiest months for crossings last year.
The Border Force is predicting a surge in the coming weeks, based on figures for migrants coming to Italy across the Mediterranean, according to The Times.
The number crossing has tripled to 60,000 so far this year, with the Italian government predicting as many as 400,000 could arrive in the whole of 2023.
It is feared that the Mediterranean crossings could fuel a summer surge in Channel small boats as many travel north after arriving in Europe.
Mr Sunak and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni vowed to work together on tackling migration as they hailed the “very strong” relations between their two countries during her visit to London in April.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has now called for an “international response” to stem the flow of migrants to countries including the UK and Italy.
He told Italy’s La Repubblica paper the two nations were “working together on issues around illegal migration, for example, which has a huge impact on Italy as a Mediterranean country really very much in the front line, as well as the UK where we're seeing real challenges”.
A Home Office representative said: “Our priority is to stop the boats, and our Small Boats Operational Command is working alongside our French partners and other agencies to successfully disrupt the people smugglers.
“The government has gone further by introducing legislation which will ensure that those people arriving in the UK illegally are detained and promptly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country.”
'Saand Ki Aankh'
Produced by: Reliance Entertainment with Chalk and Cheese Films
Director: Tushar Hiranandani
Cast: Taapsee Pannu, Bhumi Pednekar, Prakash Jha, Vineet Singh
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
What vitamins do we know are beneficial for living in the UAE
Vitamin D: Highly relevant in the UAE due to limited sun exposure; supports bone health, immunity and mood.
Vitamin B12: Important for nerve health and energy production, especially for vegetarians, vegans and individuals with absorption issues.
Iron: Useful only when deficiency or anaemia is confirmed; helps reduce fatigue and support immunity.
Omega-3 (EPA/DHA): Supports heart health and reduces inflammation, especially for those who consume little fish.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
Managing the separation process
- Choose your nursery carefully in the first place
- Relax – and hopefully your child will follow suit
- Inform the staff in advance of your child’s likes and dislikes.
- If you need some extra time to talk to the teachers, make an appointment a few days in advance, rather than attempting to chat on your child’s first day
- The longer you stay, the more upset your child will become. As difficult as it is, walk away. Say a proper goodbye and reassure your child that you will be back
- Be patient. Your child might love it one day and hate it the next
- Stick at it. Don’t give up after the first day or week. It takes time for children to settle into a new routine.And, finally, don’t feel guilty.
Jawan
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Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
La Mer lowdown
La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
The biog
Fatima Al Darmaki is an Emirati widow with three children
She has received 46 certificates of appreciation and excellence throughout her career
She won the 'ideal mother' category at the Minister of Interior Awards for Excellence
Her favourite food is Harees, a slow-cooked porridge-like dish made from boiled wheat berries mixed with chicken
