Should there be a full public inquiry into small boat crossings?
Small boat crossings across the English Channel continue, with 20,935 arrivals so far in 2026, 41% below the same point in 2025. A petition calling for a full public inquiry into illegal migration has gathered over 79,000 signatures, but the government has rejected it, stating existing parliamentary oversight and the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration provide sufficient scrutiny. There has already been a specific public inquiry into the 2021 Channel disaster that killed at least 30 people.
53 Opinions
The cause is simple. Brexit has meant we can no longer return on the next crossing back. No need to spend money on an inquiry
There should be an inquiry as we need to know who to hold accountable when the prosecutions start
Enquiries are just devices for Government of the day & the permanent Civil Service to set terms of reference that never get to the root causes, avoid all responsibility and kick the can down the road for years. This and previous governments are the people smugglers. We are being gaslit. This administration & the Civil Service are rogue it has no mandate is criminal in its intent and unless removed & the bureaucracy reformed they will push UK to the point of no return.
Why waste more money unnecessarily. Just get them stopped.
No need for the cost or waste of time. It is illegal and should be treated as such.
A full public enquiry would just be a huge waste of money. There is however a need to explain to the public why successive governments over several decades have been unable to secure the UK's borders. It's not just the ECHR. It's a miriad of UK and international law. Anyone who believes in democracy should want the UK government to take back control.
I agree with many of the comments made. The boats should be stopped immediately & ALL those that arrived illegally should be returned to their country of origin (FRANCE), there is NO reason why not. It is deliberate, it is an agenda. Have inquiry while deportations are carried out by all means, trials of those complicit should follow..many are guilty of treason.
Why waste millions on a public enquiry just get on with deporting them all
No, because we know how these inquiries go. The scope widens so the real bad guys are no longer in scope and it's all just a system/ process problem that will be looked at, not an individual with accountability who goes to jail. Look at the grooming gang inquiry.
I have said Yes but really what is needed is action. No party has ever said they will allow it to continue but here we are. The sights in Gosport were poor. Several ambulances turning up when waiting times for them are already high. A section 35 order placed on the whole town. All very dystopian.