Downing Street: Weather Has Not Reduced Channel Crossings

Downing Street has backed the home secretary on Tuesday and rejected the suggestion that weather conditions may have contributed to the reduction in channel crossings in 2023. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s official spokesman said there were a similar amount of days when there were poor weather conditions for sailing last year compared to the year before. According to official figures, the number of detected illegal immigrants who reached Dover by small boats went down by nearly 36 percent in 2023. Ministers have hailed the government’s returns or cooperation deals with Albania and other European countries, but a union representing Border Force officials said the reduction was probably a “glitch,” with bad weather playing a role....