Five radical moves Starmer can make to crack down on small boats ...Middle East

Sir Keir Starmer is under mounting pressure to crack down on Channel crossings after small boat arrivals hit 20,000 in the first six months of the year.

The Prime Minister is expected to raise the issue with Emmanuel Macron during the French President’s visit to Downing Street today, amid growing concern that UK enforcement alone cannot stem the flow.

A “nationwide blitz” by the Home Office aims to target asylum seekers working illegally, with enforcement action focused on gig economy platforms, including Uber Eats and Deliveroo. But behind the scenes, more radical options are likely under discussion.

One of the more contentious policy options is the establishment of a national digital ID system to combat illegal employment and monitor immigration status.

Several European countries, including France, Germany and the Netherlands, already use biometric or digital ID cards. These systems are often linked to work permits, benefits access and public service eligibility.

In the UK, the idea has long been politically sensitive, with critics on both the left and right fearing it could represent the first step towards a dystopian surveillance state where civil liberties and privacy are infringed. A previous ID cards scheme proposed under the last Labour government was scrapped by the coalition in 2010.

There have been reports that a digital ID card, something heavily endorsed by Sir Tony Blair, is now being reconsidered within Government departments, particularly as part of efforts to combat illegal employment.

Labour’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, expected later this year, is understood to include provisions to strengthen right-to-work checks. It is possible that its arrival in Parliament could strengthen calls for a new ID system.

Restrictions on benefit access

Individuals granted asylum can currently claim Universal Credit, access the NHS, and apply for social housing on the same basis as British citizens. This is a long-standing element of refugee protection law.

The Government could opt for a temporary delay to restrict access to benefits for those granted refugee status by requiring new arrivals to demonstrate steps towards integration — such as securing employment, completing English language training or waiting a set number of months — before accessing full benefits.

Supporters of this approach argue that it would deter economic migrants from abusing the asylum system, particularly where housing or welfare entitlements are perceived as a draw.

But any changes would likely face legal challenge unless they can be justified as compatible with the Refugee Convention and existing UK equality law.

Labour is also under pressure from campaigners and France to introduce new safe and legal routes for asylum seekers with family already in the UK.

Currently, only a limited family reunification route exists, primarily for children and spouses.

Campaigners have long argued that more generous pathways could reduce demand for people smuggling and Channel crossings.

In January, the Refugee Council urged the Home Office to issue 10,000 refugee visas to reduce the death toll from people crossing the Channel in small boats.

France and Germany already operate more expansive family reunion schemes under EU law. In some cases, these include humanitarian visas or community sponsorship programmes that allow families to apply for entry directly from conflict zones.

While Labour has previously argued that safe routes alone cannot solve the small boats crisis, it could be forced to consider whether issuing thousands more visas might be a solution to the issue.

Taking this option could risk encouraging small boat crossings, as people rush to reach the UK before new visa rules take effect.

Tighter enforcement on delivery platforms

The Government says it has already begun cracking down on illegal working among asylum seekers employed in the gig economy.

However, there are concerns that their efforts to prevent riders from sharing accounts may not be practical enough to address the issue.

Recent enforcement operations have focused on food delivery platforms, where migrants living in asylum accommodation have been found working using rented or borrowed accounts.

Under current rules, asylum seekers are not permitted to work unless their claim has been outstanding for more than 12 months and they are on the Government’s shortage occupation list.

The Home Office has pledged to increase unannounced visits to hotels and hostels, and ministers have secured voluntary agreements from companies such as Uber Eats, Deliveroo, and Just Eat to tighten verification checks.

The new checks will be rolled out in the next 90 days. Just Eat, which already uses facial recognition checks, will increase them from monthly to daily.

Labour ministers have indicated that these measures will be formalised through legislation. The forthcoming immigration bill is expected to introduce a legal obligation on platforms to prevent illegal working, with penalties for non-compliance.

Some officials believe that this approach — combining enforcement with industry regulation — could serve as a visible deterrent without necessitating major policy overhauls.

Crackdown on TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram

There have been calls for the Government to take a tougher line on tech platforms that host videos advertising illegal Channel crossings, though this is not currently a formal part of Labour policy.

Short clips on TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat sometimes show small boats departing northern France or arriving on British beaches, sometimes accompanied by price lists or contact details for smugglers.

The National Crime Agency and border officials have previously flagged concerns that such content could be used to glamorise or promote crossings, and there have been calls for platforms to take more responsibility for removing the videos.

While the UK’s Online Safety Act allows ministers to compel the removal of certain harmful content, it does not currently classify small boat videos as a priority offence.

Extending the legislation to cover this material would likely raise legal and enforcement challenges. There is, however, no current clear indication that Labour plans to pursue this route.

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