Dozens of migrants wrapped in blankets are brought to shore by Border Force in Dover – as the Government prepares to scrap 100 hotels for asylum seekers amid growing anger over the small boats crisis

• Migrants arrived in the UK on a small boat and brought to shore by officials 
• Dozen were wrapped in life jackets, hats and blankets  

Dozens of migrants arrived in the UK by a small boat today – the first in a week after Storm Babet put a temporary halt to Channel crossings. 

Border Force catamaran Typhoon intercepted the first group before daybreak, escorting them into the harbour at Dover, Kent, around 6.30am. 

The asylum seekers wearing orange life-jackets could be seen being led off the crowded vessel by UK officials.

The mostly male group were wrapped up in jumpers, hats and hooded coats after battling chilly weather conditions.

Dozens more migrants were intercepted while trying to cross the 21-mile Dover Strait and brought into the port on Border Force catamaran Volunteer four hours later around 10.30am. 

Dozens of asylum seekers packed onto a small boat arrived in the UK before being escorted off the vessel and brought to shore by UK officials 

Border Force catamaran Typhoon intercepted the first group before daybreak, escorting them into the harbour at Dover, Kent, around 6.30am

The arrivals were the first to make the treacherous journey in a week after stormy weather put a temporary pause on small boat crossings

Dozens more migrants were intercepted while trying to cross the 21-mile Dover Strait and brought into the port on Border Force catamaran Volunteer four hours later around 10.30am

The arrivals were the first to make the treacherous journey in a week after stormy weather put a temporary pause on small boat crossings. 

Extratropical cyclone Storm Babet saw the UK lashed with heavy downpours and strong winds last week. 

Four people are known to have died as a result of the extreme weather, while around 1,250 properties in England were flooded according to the Environment Agency. 

The Met Office says the weather will ‘remain unsettled with further spells of wind and rain’ throughout this week, with 116 flood warnings remaining in place across England. 

Young children were also onboard 

The mostly male group were wrapped up in jumpers, hats and hooded coats after battling chilly weather conditions 

The Met Office says the weather will ‘remain unsettled with further spells of wind and rain’ throughout this week, with 116 flood warnings remaining in place across England 

A running total of 26,168 migrants have crossed the Channel in 552 boats this year, according to official government figures

A running total of 26,168 migrants have crossed the Channel in 552 boats this year, according to official government figures. 

October alone has seen 1,101 asylum seekers make the perilous journey in 23 boats so far – an average of 48 people crammed into each dinghy. 

But at this stage last year, 38,101 people had reached the UK by small boat, with a staggering 6,900 of those arriving in October. 

Overall 45,755 people crossed the Channel in 2022 – 60 per cent higher than 2021 when 28,526 migrants made the journey. 

October alone has seen 1,101 asylum seekers make the perilous journey in 23 boats so far – an average of 48 people crammed into each dinghy 

But at this stage last year, 38,101 people had reached the UK by small boat, with a staggering 6,900 of those arriving in October 

Overall 45,755 people crossed the Channel in 2022 – 60 per cent higher than 2021 when 28,526 migrants made the journey

UK officials led the migrants to shore (pictured) 

The government will also stop using 100 migrant hotels in key election battleground seats in a bid by Rushi Sunak to improve his Tory election hopes.

Contracts with hotels will be slashed in areas such as Stoke and Wigan in the hope that anger over the small boat crisis will be addressed.

The issue has become one of the most visible signs of the government’s failure to tackle illegal migration, Conservative Party strategists acknowledge.

The move, which will be announced tomorrow, will see such hotels stop taking migrants by the end of March.

Taxpayers are currently stumping up £8million a day to keep Channel migrants in hotels with a rapid acceleration in the rate of asylum claims being processed and a lower than expected number of migrants crossing the Channel.

The Mail revealed earlier this month that the Home Office had 215,518 asylum cases ‘in progress’ at the end of June, up 30 per cent year on year. It included more than 41,000 failed asylum seekers awaiting removal. 

This year 26,168 migrants have arrived in 552 small boats — 30 per cent fewer than the 37,603 that had crossed by this time last year. The Border Force had forecast that 65,000 migrants would cross the Channel in small boats this year, compared with 45,755 in 2022.

As of June 2023, there were more than 50,000 asylum seekers in roughly 400 hotels, costing £8.2 million a day.

Six dinghies carrying 185 men, women and some children were intercepted by Border Force on October 16, bringing the total arrivals for this year up to 45,755

READ MORE – Meet the millionaire ‘Asylum King’ who rakes in £100k a DAY

Ministers hope that the latest move will be a ‘turning point’ towards stopping the practice altogether. Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, will make the announcement, The Times revealed.

The decline in Home Office demand for hotels has also been boosted by work to clear a backlog of 92,000 asylum claims that Sunak promised would be completed by the end of this year.

The latest published figures showed that 55,477 were outstanding by the end of August.

The closure of 100 hotels for migrant accommodation will be the first in a string of announcements designed to show the government’s progress towards Sunak’s ‘Stop the boats’ pledge, although he will still be under pressure to reduce the number to zero by the next election.

The government hopes that in mid-December the Supreme Court will declare its Rwanda policy as lawful, paving the way for migrants to be deported early next year.

Mr Sunak has been urged by his fellow Tories to get a grip on immigration following record figures.

A total of 26,168 migrants have made the treacherous crossing in 406 dinghies so far in 2023.

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