Channel Migrant Crisis Expected to Worsen as More Cross During Dangerous Weather Conditions

The first migrants of 2025 have crossed the English Channel, even though the weather conditions were harsh. This has raised concerns about how desperate people are to make the dangerous journey.

Henry Bolton OBE, a former UKIP leader, spoke about this issue on GB News, saying that migrants are now taking bigger risks than before.

“I live on the South East coast, and it was bitterly cold last night,” Bolton said. “We’re seeing more people trying to cross in bad weather, like the cold, than in any other year. This shows how serious the situation is.”

The small boat carrying the migrants was stopped early Saturday morning by a Border Force vessel.

This was the first crossing attempt since December 29, when bad weather made it impossible for boats to travel. The intercepted boat is now on its way back to Dover with all the passengers onboard.

Last year, almost 37,000 people made the dangerous journey across the Channel in small boats, despite the risks. Around 1,500 people crossed during the Christmas period alone. Since the General Election six months ago, more than 23,000 migrants have reached UK shores.

Bolton believes the UK government’s current efforts to stop these crossings are not enough. He said the government is focusing only on isolated solutions, like sending migrants back or building new detention centers, instead of addressing the bigger picture.

He suggested that the UK should work more closely with France and the European Union to find a long-term solution. “The EU has its own migration problems. The agreements we make with France should take into account the EU’s open borders and their challenges,” Bolton said.

This highlights the ongoing challenges of managing migration, as desperate people continue to risk their lives to reach the UK. Many believe a broader and more coordinated effort is needed to address this issue at its root.