325 small boat migrants arrived in UK after two died in crossing attempt

More than 300 small boat migrants arrived in the UK on Wednesday, after two people died attempting the deadly journey.

French authorities rescued 111 people across several different incidents, as migrants successfully crossed the English Channel for the first time since March 23.

Rescuers pulled eight people on to a boat at Gravelines, near Calais, but two of them could not be saved.

Some 325 arrived in five different boats, the Home Office said.

They arrived after the Home Secretary failed to agree a new beach patrol deal with France aimed at reducing the number of departures.

On Tuesday, Shabana Mahmood signed a two-month £2 million a week extension to the current arrangement as the UK and France thrash out a longer-term agreement.

The eleventh-hour deal with Paris came just before the near £500 million deal aimed at reducing the number of departures was due to end, and means operational contracts will continue to be funded by £16.2 million of UK Government money.

A spokesperson said Ms Mahmood was “driving a hard bargain” with Paris, “getting more bang for our buck”.

According to official statistics, 4,766 migrants have arrived in the UK so far this year, 28% lower than the number who had reached the UK by this point last year.

The sharp drop in arrivals so far could be because of conditions in the English Channel, which have been more unsettled than in the early months of 2025.