Migrants walk in the water to board a small boat in an attempt to reach Britain, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025 in Gravelines, northern France.

2025 saw the second highest number of small boat crossings on record, according to the Home Office.

The government has revealed 41,472 people arrived in the UK by coming across the English Channel in 2025, despite Keir Starmer’s promises to cut down on irregular migration.

That’s second only to 2022′s record when 45,774 people came to the UK.

Crossings were on track to be at an all time high earlier this year but the rate slowed down during November and December, pushing 2025′s numbers into second place.

Immigration has become a major sore spot for the government after the prime minister fought the 2024 general election on the promise that he would “smash the gangs” which bring across migrants.

He also negotiated a

© HuffPost