An Border Force vessel delivers migrants to Dover port after intercepting a small boat crossing on December 17, 2025 in Dover, England.

The number of small boat migrants arriving on British shores pales in comparison to the number turning up to some other countries, the outgoing head of the United Nations’ refugee agency has said.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4′s Today programme, Filippo Grandi – who is leaving his post at the end of 2025 – hit out at those who claim there are too many people trying to come to the UK.

Pointing to the 41,000 people who crossed the English Channel to get into the UK in 2025, he said: “In some places, this is the daily arrival of refugees. In Chad, for example, coming from Sudan, from a terrible war.”

However, he added that deciding who qualifies as a refugee needs to be “organised much better”, with clearer return deals.

“When this doesn’t happen, people say, ’oh, there’s no leadership in this, it’s chaos, it’s dangerous, let’s listen to those who say push back,” the official said.

He said it requires “political courage”........

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