More than 450 migrants crossed the English Channel in small boats on Christmas Day.

Home Office figures updated today show 451 migrants in 11 rubber dinghies made the dangerous journey from France on Wednesday.

The latest arrivals bring total so far this year to 35,491, around 21% higher than last year but about 22% down on 2022.

A group of people were also seen being brought into Dover, Kent, from a Border Force vessel following a small boat incident on Boxing Day.

Tory Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “We have been let down again by Labour. Their Christmas gift to the British public appears to be uncontrolled and unlimited illegal immigration.

“Labour scrapped the Rwanda deterrent before it even started, and consequently illegal channel crossings are up by around a fifth since the election compared to the same period last year.

“This Labour government has failed to offer any real or credible plan to protect our borders – instead offering nothing but hollow soundbites and empty promises.

“They say they want to smash the gangs but the numbers are up on their watch and Labour even voted against longer prison sentences for these gangs when in opposition.

“If Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper really believed in stopping the boats they offer this country a real and credible plan urgently.”

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice added: “It’s quite clear that far from smashing the gangs, it’s only getting worse under Labour.

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“Labour need to start putting British people first and not allowing our borders to be at the whim of the weather.

“Reform UK are clear, our plan is to pick up and return the boats to France as allowed under UN Convention of Law at Sea. This will stop boats within weeks but requires leadership not cowardice.”

The last time there were crossings on Christmas Day was 2022 when 90 people arrived. There were 67 the year before in 2021.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to “smash the gangs” who facilitate the small boat crossings.

As part of this work, he has set up a new Border Security Command, and is attempting to work more closely with the UK’s European neighbours to pull apart organised crime gangs involved in people smuggling.