10,000 Small Boat Migrants Arrive Since Shabana Mahmood Became Home Secretary
The milestone of over 10,000 small boat migrants arriving in Britain has been reached within 66 days of Shabana Mahmood taking charge of the Home Office, making it the second-fastest rate since 2018.
Recent Crossing Statistics
- 621 arrivals on Thursday
- 648 arrivals on Friday
- 503 arrivals on Saturday
- 349 arrivals on Sunday
Comparisons With Previous Home Secretaries
Mahmood reached this number more quickly than her immediate predecessor, Yvette Cooper, who took 74 days to hit 10,000 crossings before being reassigned to the Foreign Office by PM Sir Keir Starmer due to struggles with the Channel crisis.
| Home Secretary | Days to Reach 10,000 Crossings |
|---|---|
| Shabana Mahmood | 66 days |
| Yvette Cooper | 74 days |
| James Cleverly (Conservative) | 171 days |
| Priti Patel (Conservative) | 583 days |
| Suella Braverman | 43 days (2022) |
Context of the 2022 Surge
Suella Braverman reached the 10,000 mark in just 43 days during 2022, a year marked by an unprecedented annual number of migrants and a sharp increase in Albanian arrivals.
A government source told the Daily Mail that the timing of this milestone was "unfortunate" as Ms Mahmood is reportedly arranging 10,000 asylum accommodation places in old army barracks and other locations.
Summary
Britain has seen over 10,000 small boat migrants since Mahmood's appointment, underscoring the persistent and growing challenge at the Channel compared to previous administrations.
Author’s note: The ongoing Channel crisis continues to test each Home Secretary, with arrival rates accelerating despite efforts to manage asylum capacity.