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Liberal Democrat Leader Blames Brexit for Channel Boat Crossings
By Drooid · · How we work
Background: Brexit and UK Migration Policy
Since the United Kingdom left the European Union, the legal framework that allowed migrants arriving in the English Channel to be returned to the EU member state from which they had travelled was discontinued. The change has been cited by some politicians as a factor in the rise of small-boat crossings from France to Britain.
Sir Ed Davey's Call for Re-joining the EU Migration Pact
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey told BBC local radio stations that the increase in migrant dinghy arrivals is a direct consequence of Brexit, adding that the Conservative Party and Reform UK have been exploiting the issue for political gain. He urged the government to reopen negotiations with the European Commission to re-enter the EU’s migration and asylum pact, arguing that the arrangement would restore the ability to return migrants to the EU state of origin and act as an “effective deterrent.” Davey framed the proposal as a pragmatic response, saying that if the system had worked before Brexit, the UK should adopt it again.
Data on Recent Small-Boat Arrivals
Sir Ed referenced recent statistics indicating that, under the current Labour government, small-boat arrivals have fallen by 44 % while deportations have risen by 8 %. He characterized these changes as insufficient, emphasizing that the reductions were achieved only through international cooperation and that further collaboration is needed.
Political Implications Ahead of the Lib Dem Conference
The comments were made in the run-up to the Liberal Democrats’ annual conference, which begins on Saturday. By linking migration policy to the party’s broader platform on cost of living, pensions and crime, Davey positioned the issue as a central electoral concern. His criticism of the Conservatives and Reform UK, coupled with a call for policy alignment with the EU, signals an attempt to differentiate the Liberal Democrats on immigration ahead of the upcoming campaign season.