Boats carrying a number of people believed to be migrants have arrived at Dover (Image: Getty)
Chaos in the Channel continued this morning as hundreds of migrants were brought to shore after crossing in small boats.
French warships were tracking a number of dinghies off the coast of Calais and Dunkirk as smugglers exploit the hottest day of the year so far.
Dozens have already been intercepted, with hundreds more set to be brought to Ramsgate in Kent.
As many as 450 are believed to have left France this morning, which would make it the highest number of arrivals so far this year.
Illegal migrants disembark from a Border Force vessel into Ramsgate (Image: Getty Images)
A senior maritime source told GB News: “It’s quite remarkable that we are now overtaking the totals for the last two years at this point in the year, given the atrocious weather in the Channel in these first two months of 2026.
“And the fact we are seeing huge numbers already gathering in the migrant camps tells you we’re likely to be in for another record year of arrivals.”
The outlet is suggesting 4,500 migrants are currently in makeshift camps in Calais and Dunkirk.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron faced fresh fury over the French police’s low interception rate.
Shocking analysis revealed two thirds of crossings are successful, prompting calls for the Prime Minister to stop paying Paris.
New figures claim French authorities stopped 22,476 migrants from crossing to the UK.
But the vast majority of these are believed to be linked to dinghies sinking, their engines breaking down, overcrowding leading to chaos on the boats and bad weather.
Reform’s Zia Yusuf warned the French President is “laughing at us” as migrants cross the Channel at “record pace”.
He said: “It’s ridiculous, but equally they are looking out for French interests.
“Macron is laughing at us because France has taken £700million of British taxpayers’ money with the express goal of stopping the boats.
“What’s happened? The boats are coming at a record pace. It’s a joke. France is laughing at us.
“Yes, I can condemn Macron. But, here’s the point, it’s British political leaders that are allowing this insane stuff to happen.
“My anger, and I think a lot of the anger of the British people, is directed at British politicians, frankly, who have betrayed their own people.”
Illegal migrants queue to be processed after arriving in the UK (Image: Getty Images)
Migrants waiting to board a bus (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp added: “It is pathetic the French are allowing two-thirds of illegal immigrants to embark.
“Last summer, I witnessed French police ushering illegal immigrants on to a bus headed towards the departure points.
“We should not pay any more unless they start to take effective action.
“They should intercept all the boats near the French shore, which can easily and safely be done.”
British and French officials have repeatedly disagreed over plans to intercept boats in the Channel.
France has finally given police officers to stop dinghies in the water. But they have only done so once.
And Border Force chiefs drew up plans to push migrant boats back.
Marked ‘Official Sensitive’, they revealed how a Border Force vessel could draw up alongside the migrant vessel before knocking the front portion of it using tactical contact to slowly turn it around whilst the engine was running.
This would be repeated until the dinghy was heading back into French territorial waters.
And Border Force drew up plans for two vessels to box a migrant boat in on both sides and guide it back towards French territorial waters.
This would have been implemented if the asylum seekers refused to comply with requests to turn around.
But Mr Darmanin decided it was “counter to their obligations and our obligations around safety of life at sea”, Mr O’Mahoney said. And it seemingly led to even more anger from Paris
