𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

More than 10,000 migrants have crossed the Channel this year after hundreds more arrived on Thursday.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned of “even more HMOs” – houses of multiple occupation – as the asylum system continues to come under intense pressure.

Some 710 people arrived on Monday, taking the total to 9,852.

And at least three boats were believed to have arrived on Thursday, taking the total past 10,000, with two more currently in French waters.

Mr Farage declared: “Over 10,000 illegal migrants have now crossed the English Channel in 2026. That means even more HMOs for Makerfield under Labour.”

Some 2,726 people made the crossing to Britain in May, down 1,000 from 2025.

There are now 68,719 asylum seekers living in houses, flats and bedsits – including large HMOs – in communities across the country.

And Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has vowed to close every migrant hotel by the next general election.

But the growing numbers in dispersal accommodation will anger the public even more due to a lack of infrastructure.

Anger over HMOs triggered some of the riots in Belfast, with communities blasting the unfairness over illegal migrants being given houses.

The true number of migrants being supported by taxpayers could be even higher than the headline figures suggest.

Separate government figures also show almost 40,000 Afghans are living in taxpayer-funded accommodation, the majority of whom arrived in the UK after being evacuated following the Taliban takeover.

Some 265 council areas are now housing more asylum seekers.

Britain’s asylum crisis was laid bare as 93,525 sought sanctuary in the UK last year, down from 106,130 in the previous 12 months.

An alarming 38,980 people applied after crossing the Channel on a dinghy, while 36,711 claimed refuge after arriving on a study, work or visitor visa.

Of this group, 10,835 held a study visa, 13,994 arrived on a work visa, 7,048 used a visitor visa and 4,834 held other forms of leave.