More than 10,000 small boat migrants have now crossed Channel since Sir Keir Starmer became PM

MORE than 10,000 small boat migrants have now crossed the Channel since Sir Keir Starmer became PM.

The milestone puts more pressure on the Labour leader to keep his election vow to end the crisis.

Government data showed another 65 made the journey from France on Monday, just 24 hours after eight people died attempting the same trip.

It takes the tally under Sir Keir to 10,024 since he entered Downing Street on July 4.

The PM insists illegal immigration is a top priority and this week flew to Italy for talks with counterpart Giorgia Meloni on crushing the European smuggling gangs.

He has also appointed top cop Martin Hewitt as his new Border ­Security Commander.

Downing Street insisted work was happening “on all fronts” to stop crossings, which have hit 23,598 for 2024 — just one per cent lower than the same time in 2023.

Reform’s Nigel Farage told The Sun: “The Channel emergency is getting worse and this government are clueless when it comes to a solution.”

Shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly brought up the axing of the Rwanda plan in his criticism.

He said: “Labour have scrapped our deterrent, set up a phoney border command and sent a clear signal to the people-smugglers that they will turn a blind eye.”

Last month The Home Sec vowed to boot out more than 14,000 illegal immigrants in the next six months.

In August, Yvette Cooper launched a crackdown on small boat migrants.