Latest in Politics Top Starmer Aide Stays at No 10 Amid Calls for Dismissal
The UK’s immigration landscape has recently seen significant developments under the Labour government, which took office on July 5, 2024. As of October 31, 2025, nearly 50,000 individuals lacking the right to reside in the UK have been deported. A total of 48,560 people were removed during this period.
Immigration Policy Changes
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to announce new measures aimed at discouraging illegal migration. She will present these plans to Members of Parliament on Monday. The Home Office has labeled these measures as “the most sweeping reforms to tackle illegal migration in modern times.”
- Reforms to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)
- Changes to modern slavery legislation
These adjustments aim to expedite deportations which have faced delays due to existing legal frameworks.
Increased Deportations
Since Labour’s entry into office, the Home Office claims to have ramped up deportation efforts significantly. They reported a 23% increase in total removals compared to the previous 16 months. Key statistics for the period between November 2024 and October 2025 include:
- 24% increase in enforced removals
- 12% rise in deportations of foreign criminals
- 27% increase in asylum-related removals
Mahmood emphasized the government’s commitment to increasing the removal of illegal migrants and ensuring United Kingdom borders are secure.
Small Boat Arrivals Surge
This year has marked a notable spike in small boat crossings compared to 2024. More migrants have made the journey across the Channel in the first half of 2025 than in all of 2024. Statistics reveal a 50% increase in crossings during the first six months of 2025:
- 19,982 arrivals from January to July 2025
- 13,489 arrivals during the same period in 2024
This surge marks a record high for the first six months of any year since data tracking began in 2018. The peak year for small boat crossings remains 2022, with 45,755 individuals arriving through this route.
The urgency of the situation has prompted renewed calls for reform from various political parties, including the Conservatives and Reform UK, which have pledged to exit the ECHR if elected.
