Small boat crossings since Rishi Sunak became PM set to pass 50,000 within 24 hours

The number of small boat arrivals since Rishi Sunak became PM is expected to hit 50,000 in the next 24 hours.

The under-fire Tory leader made stopping the boats one of his key pledges, but asylum seekers are making the dangerous journey in record numbers. Since Mr Sunak took the top job in October 2022, 49,709 people have arrived this way.

In the past week there have been 1,213 arrivals, Home Office figures show. Under Mr Sunak an average of nearly 575 people have reached the UK by small boat per week - compared to 404 under Boris Johnson.

Before 11am on Sunday three Border Force catamarans were deployed in the Channel, taking people off dinghis. And with the weather forecast to be clear on Monday, it is likely the journeys will continue.

The Tories maintain that the Rwanda deportation scheme will be a deterrant. But Mr Sunak called a snap election before forced flights could begin.

Meanwhile a recording emerged of James Sunderland, an aide to Home Secretary James Cleverly, telling Young Conservatives: "The policy is crap." But Mr Sunderland did continue: "There is no doubt at all that when those first flights take off it will send such a shockwave across the Channel that the gangs will stop."

Jonathan Ashworth, Labour's Shadow Paymaster General, said: "Whatever else happens in this election campaign, Rishi Sunak will always be known as the Prime Minister who broke his promises to Britain. He pledged to stop the boats, but has seen 50,000 people make the crossing on his watch, is currently presiding over the worst year ever for small boat arrivals, and has the Home Secretary's closest parliamentary aide now dismissing his Rwanda policy as 'crap'."

2024 is currently on track to be the worst year on record for small boat arrivals. So far there have been 12,646 recorded arrivals. By the same point last year there were 11,058. The Mirror has contacted Tory HQ for comment.