Over 25,000 migrants have arrived in UK on small boats this year as ministers fail to stem the tide

THE number of migrants arriving in the UK on small boats topped 25,000 yesterday — as ministers fail to stem the tide.

Another 915 made the Channel crossing in 19 rickety dinghies to push the year’s total past the milestone to 25,146.

Last year’s 28,526 record tally is likely to be smashed within days as people smugglers take advantage of the hot weather.

Some 8,747 have crossed just in this month, MoD stats show — with 1,295 arriving on August 22 alone.

Home Secretary Priti Patel is still fighting to implement her flagship plan to send asylum seekers on to Rwanda.

No deportation flights have taken off yet following last-ditch legal challenges from lawyers. The Home Office is due in court for the next hearings next month.

Tory leadership contenders Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak have both committed to pressing on with the Rwanda policy if they become PM.

A government spokesman said: “The rise in these dangerous crossings is unacceptable. Not only are they an overt abuse of our immigration laws but they risk the lives of vulnerable people.”