Around 696 made the journey in 14 boats on Monday, with large groups of migrants – including young children – seen coming ashore at Ramsgate. The latest figure means more than 17,000 people have now arrived in the UK in 2022 after navigating the busy shipping lanes from France in small craft such as dinghies. Politics Hub: Sunak backs criticism of Truss over pay cuts It comes a day after the government confirmed the number of migrants crossing the Channel in July was the highest of the year so far, with 3,683 making the journey on 90 boats. And it also comes a month after new laws increase the maximum sentence for those who enter the UK illegally to four years in prison and life imprisonment for those driving the boats. The government announced its plan to send migrants arriving in the UK illegally to Rwanda just three months ago, saying it would prevent people from crossing the Channel.
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But the first flight to the country was canceled following a last-minute order from the European Court of Human Rights. Home Secretary Priti Patel has stood by the plan and the two Conservative leadership candidates, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, have pledged to continue the policy. But opposition parties and charities – reportedly even Prince Charles – have claimed the policy is inhumane. And last month, court documents revealed Ms Patel had been warned not to go ahead with the scheme, with the UK High Commissioner to Rwanda saying the country “has been accused of recruiting refugees to carry out armed operations in neighboring countries”. . Reports say Ms Patel is preparing to announce another multi-million pound deal with France to try to reduce the number of migrants crossing the Channel. According to the Times, the money will go towards more beach patrols and surveillance equipment and will be on top of the millions already paid to the country.