More than 150 migrants head towards UK just hours after Keir Starmer's returns deal came into effect

Just before 1.30pm, the Border Force vessel Typhoon arrived at Dover harbour with the first group of migrants picked up today.

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It comes a day after Sir Keir Starmer's Government announced the signing of a migrant returns deal with France, people smuggling gangs have given their response, sending hundreds more migrants into the English Channel.

The Border Force vessel Typhoon picked up the first group of at least 60 migrants just after 11.30am.

GB News counted 81 migrants as they disembarked from the Typhoon at the Western Jet Foil.

That section of the harbour is home to the Border Force migrant processing centre.

Just 15 minutes after Typhoon docked, the Border Force vessel Ranger arrived with a second group of small boat migrants.

GB News provisional figures show 74, mostly young men, were taken off the Ranger and led to the migrant processing centre for initial checks.

The Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp watched from the cliffs of Dover as the migrants disembarked.

Earlier, he had witness Border Force intercept and pick up those on board both migrant boats, which had launched from Gravelines beach near Dunkirk hours before.

Philp was critical of French authorities for escorting the migrant boats across the Channel without intervening to turn them back.

He also criticised the French policy of handing out lifejackets to the migrants, which he said was tantamount to enabling the illegal crossings.

He told GB News: "The French were simply ushering them, escorting them across into British waters. They made no attempt to stop them whatsoever, even though other countries like the Belgians, the Australians, do stop these boats.

"The French escorted them across a dangerous shipping lane. I saw a large tanker ship having to change course to avoid the migrant boats.

"And the French captain then had the cheek to ask for his life jackets back. We caught that on the radio, so he can give those life jackets to a load of other illegal immigrants in the future.

"It seems to me the French are facilitating this illegal immigration, not stopping it, which I think is disgraceful."

Home Office Minister Dame Angela Eagle accused the shadow Home Secretary of hypocrisy by expecting instant results from the Government's new returns deal.

In a message to Philp, Dame Angela said: "You may recall that 13 April 2022, the day after the UK-Rwanda treaty was signed, 651 people crossed the Channel."

She added: "In the seven days up to 19 April, 2,076 people came across, still the worst week ever for arrivals in the first five months of the year.

"I don't remember you saying at the time that proved the Rwanda scheme wouldn't work."

In response to Eagle's criticism, Philp told GB News: "Well, this year so far, 2025 has been the worst year in history for illegal crossings. That is down to this Labour Government."

He said the Conservative's Rwanda plan could have worked if Labour had given it a chance.

"But what did Keir Starmer do? He cancelled it days before it was due to start, with no replacement plan at all," he added.

"And that is why we have seen numbers surging and this year so far has been the worst ever."

Starmer had vowed to fix Britain's "broken asylum system" by signing up to the deal with France.

Speaking ahead of the the official implementation of the plan, the Prime Minister said: "This Government has been fixing the foundations of the broken asylum system we inherited and today we send a clear message – if you come here illegally on a small boat you will face being sent back to France.

"This is the product of months of grown-up diplomacy delivering real results for British people as we broker deals no government has been able to achieve and strike at the heart of these vile gangs’ business model.

"The days of gimmicks and broken promises are over – we will restore order to our borders with the seriousness and competence the British people deserve."

However, Starmer's "one-in, one-out" deal came under criticism after it emerged that the UK would foot the bill for the transport costs.

The deal is also only expected to remain in place for 11 months, making estimates of one-in-17 migrants being deported even more negligible.