Sir Keir Starmer’s one-in one-out deal faced further ridicule after migrants in France crossed the Channel after they legally applied to come to the UK.
An Iranian asylum seeker boarded a small boat after “nobody called” when he applied under the new scheme with France.
Ali, who did not give his surname, even revealed his family already living in the UK had been keeping him informed about negotiations between the Prime Minister and President Emmanuel Macron, of France.
When the deal was struck, Ali decided to try and reach the UK, boarding a dinghy in Gravelines.
Ali said: “Nobody called, nobody contacted me. The first day, the day [the form] was uploaded, I applied. I don’t think they will really take people. I think it is just a government thing.”
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “2025 has seen over 28,000 illegal arrivals, making it so far the worst year ever for crossings, and Labour think sending back 100 of them will make a difference. It won’t.
“This proves the ‘one in, one out’ gimmick is failing. Smugglers know the odds, migrants know the odds, if you cross the Channel, you stay. That is why the boats keep coming.
“Every single illegal arrival must be deported, nothing less will stop the crossings. Conservatives have a clear plan to do just that through our Deportation Bill. Labour are tinkering while Britain’s borders are being breached.”
It comes as new figures, published on Tuesday, revealed more than 180,000 have crossed the Channel since the crisis began in 2018.
Another 659 people were detected in nine boats on Bank Holiday Monday as smugglers continued to wreak havoc.
On Sunday 212 people were also rescued.
Home Office records show 180,085 have crossed the Channel, including at least 28,947 this year.
Some 3,511 have arrived in August alone.
And 52,189 crossed in small boats since Labour came into power in July 2024.
Hundreds more are believed to have arrived on Tuesday, as Border Force crews were scrambled to the Channel.
People in orange life jackets were seen walking off the catamarans on a gangway to the immigration processing centre at the port’s Western Docks.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.
“The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay and we will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.
Dozens climbed into a dinghy destined for Britain (Image: Getty)
“That is why this government has put together a serious plan to take down these networks at every stage.
“Through international intelligence sharing under our Border Security Command, enhanced enforcement operations in Northern France and tougher legislation in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, we are strengthening international partnerships and boosting our ability to identify, disrupt, and dismantle criminal gangs whilst strengthening the security of our borders.”
