Yvette Cooper Addresses Illegal Channel Crossings

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has acknowledged that the number of small boat crossings in the English Channel is 'far too high' but has refrained from setting a timeline for reducing these numbers. Over 34,000 migrants have arrived in the UK by small boats this year, with recent days marking record-high crossings. Cooper emphasized the need for progress and pledged to target the criminal gangs facilitating these dangerous crossings, yet she criticized previous home secretaries for making unfulfilled promises regarding migration. The Labour government has increased the number of deportations, with nearly 13,500 people removed since the election. Despite the rising numbers, Cooper insisted that border security remains a top priority for the government. She stated, 'Of course we want to see the boat crossings come down as rapidly as possible,' while avoiding the formulation of specific targets or deadlines.