The number of people who have crossed the English Channel in small boats since Sir Keir Starmer became prime minister has exceeded 50,000, new Home Office figures reveal — reaching the milestone faster than under any other leader.

Data shows 474 migrants made the crossing yesterday in eight boats, marking the highest daily total so far this August. This brings the running total to more than 50,000 just 402 days into Starmer’s premiership, surpassing Rishi Sunak’s equivalent tally by 201 days and Boris Johnson’s by 664 days (though Johnson’s term included pandemic travel restrictions).

The surge comes despite Starmer’s repeated pledge to "smash the gangs" and yesterday’s stern warning that anyone arriving illegally "will face detention and return." Labour insists that reversing the trend will take time, rejecting what it calls "short-term gimmicks."

Former home secretary Baroness Jacqui Smith defended Labour’s approach, blaming the previous Conservative government for allowing people-smuggling networks to entrench themselves across Europe. But the Conservatives countered by accusing Labour of "scrapping the Rwanda scheme" and claiming Channel migrants are "breaking into" the UK.

The stalemate on the issue appears to be benefiting Reform UK, which continues to poll strongly by tapping into public frustration. Commentators warn Labour that unless crossings fall, Reform’s "Stop the Boats to Stop Reform" message will gain traction.

Meanwhile, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch used a seaside visit to the Isle of Wight to reiterate her party’s pledge to end crossings entirely by housing migrants in purpose-built camps, not local communities. "It wouldn’t happen straight away, but it would happen quickly," she told reporters.

Home Office statistics on small boat arrivals are published on a delay, meaning figures for today’s crossings have yet to be confirmed.