UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Home Secretary Yvette Cooper won’t guarantee fewer Channel crossings next year, citing complex border and asylum challenges requiring step-by-step action.
As reported by The Independent, Yvette Cooper did not assure small boat crossings will drop next year, as public frustration grows over the government’s handling of migration.
Public frustration over the government’s handling of small boats and asylum hotels sparked protests, while Labour faces criticism after record Channel crossings this year.
What did Yvette Cooper say about small boat crossings and migration challenges?
During an interview, when asked if crossings will drop next year, Yvette Cooper declined “grand promises,” blaming the previous government’s failed assurances.
She said,
“Anybody sensible who talks to you about this will say there’s no one single silver bullet that will deal with the challenges that we face around border security, around the scale of migration, around the asylum system… We did inherit a system that was in chaos.”
Ms Cooper stated,
“There isn’t a single silver bullet, but there are lots of things that can make a difference.”
She said,
“You’re right, the difference in the approach that I’m taking compared to the previous government is that they used to make these grand, sweeping claims, and they’re not delivering any of them. They used to make grand promises that everything was suddenly going to be solved, whether it was by Rwanda or whether it was by cancelling the asylum system or and so on.”
When asked if people are losing patience with the government, she replied,
“Well, progress will come only through multiple changes and hard graft.”
The home secretary said,
“And you know, you can just stand on the shoreline and you can shout at the sea, and that’s what I think opposition parties have been doing. Or you can get on with the hard graft and roll up our sleeves and just do step by step and keep working on this, and we’re determined to do so.”
Ms Cooper declined to promise that Channel migrants will be sent back in September under the returns agreement. She expects initial returns this month, but stayed cautious on September deportations.
She added,
“We expect the first returns to take place this month. But I’ve always said from the very beginning on this, it’s a pilot scheme and it needs to build up over time.”
Ms Cooper revealed plans to halt new refugee family reunion applications as part of measures to tackle the asylum backlog and limit Channel crossings.
Refugees now follow standard family migration rules as a tougher reunion framework is developed. They must now show a £29,000 joint income before a partner can join them in Britain.
The home secretary gave a statement in the Commons after summer recess, marked by rising public anger over migration. She outlined plans for a new independent body to speed up asylum appeals and confirmed that initial returns under the France deal will start this month.
Ms Cooper added that more family reunion reforms will be outlined in an asylum statement this year and implemented by spring, warning that gangs exploit the rules for illegal crossings.
She confirmed the government will contact international students, warning that overstaying visas will lead to removal.
The home secretary stated,
“If nothing has changed in their country, people should not be claiming asylum at the end of a student course. We need to clamp down on that, and that’s why we’re sending these messages to be very clear to people – the asylum system is not for people who just want to extend their visas.”
Yvette Cooper’s views on Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer’s reshuffle
When questioned whether Chancellor Rachel Reeves was sidelined after the Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s changes in Downing Street, Yvette Cooper responded,
“I don’t think so at all. Quite the reverse. I think the prime minister and the chancellor have always worked extremely closely together and continue to do so.”
Referring to the Number 1o reshuffle, she added,
“In my experience through successive chancellors through very many years, ultimately, the chancellor always writes the budget, because that’s the nature of the complex mix of things, but always with conversations and discussions with the prime minister throughout, so you get that strong support.”
Key facts about illegal boat crossings in the UK
Small boat crossings reached 25,000 by July 2025, up 51% from 2024. Asylum grant rates are 68%, but only 3% returned, mostly to Albania.
The crossings are increasingly dangerous, with 73 deaths in 2024. Overcrowded and unsafe boats worsen the risks for migrants.