'Exasperated' Boris Johnson orders review into Channel migrant crisis

The Prime Minister has ordered a Whitehall review into the cross-Channel migrant crisis, it emerged last night.

Boris Johnson is said to be 'exasperated' by his Government's failure to reduce the number of migrants on small boats making the journey and wants ministers to 'redouble' efforts to 'fix' the crisis.

Former Brexit secretary Stephen Barclay, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has been put in charge of the review, according to The Times.

It will seek to find solutions to the crisis and make sure all departments – not only the Home Office – are contributing.

The review follows a week of record migrant Channel crossings, with 1,000 reaching the British shores on Tuesday alone and around 24,000 making the journey this year. The figure is almost triple the number that arrived in 2020.

Mr Johnson's frustration comes after a series of promises made by Home Secretary Priti Patel to tackle the crisis.

They culminated this week with the suggestion that asylum seekers could be sent abroad for processing. Countries including Albania are being considered as possible destinations. 

Last night it emerged that Ms Patel is planning a Greek-style crackdown on migrants which will see new restrictions imposed on asylum seekers, as well the construction of new purpose-built reception centres, according to The Daily Telegraph.

In Greece, migrants face regular checks on their movements which include curfews to stop them going off the radar.

Speaking of Mr Johnson's frustration that the migrant crisis has not yet been solved, a senior government source said the PM saw it as one of his biggest priorities and he was concerned that 'after two years there are still no viable solutions'.

'Boris is exasperated. He's told ministers to redouble efforts to fix this, no matter how difficult it is,' they said.

'If it looks bad now, it's going to look much worse in spring when it's warmer.'

In new plans being drawn up by the Home Office, migrants will have asylum claims thrown out if they abscond or misbehave.

The changes – which will require legislation – will be crucial in the operation of the new processing centres, which will house asylum seekers while their cases are scrutinised.

Migrants could also be issued with 'asylum apps' to track the progress of their applications on smartphones or computers in the centres.

Home Secretary Priti Patel has been impressed by the way Greece has digitised its asylum application process to track cases, sped up decisions and cut down on unnecessary paperwork.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Miss Patel said Greece had decided 'not to sit behind the EU block of competency'.

Ministers are also keen to avoid a repeat of riots at asylum centres.

'If they breach the rules, it will affect their asylum claim,' a source said.

'They would be told they have to be back in by a certain time, and so on. Terms would include preventing absconding.'

Some previously reported plans to tackle crossings have included the use of giant wave machines, nets to snare boat propellers and floating walls in the sea.

However, Dan O'Mahoney, the Home Office's Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, told the Home Affairs Select Committee earlier this week that they were never considered'.

He added that the wave machine idea is 'bizarre'.

But the move to bring in Mr Barclay could be seen as an admission that the Home Secretary has not managed to tackle the issue.

It comes after Sir Keir Starmer accused Ms Patel of failing to deliver on promises to stem the flow of illegal migrants crossing the Channel.

The Labour leader said Ms Patel has not secured strong enough agreements with the French government to prevent migrants making the dangerous sea journey.

He said the Home Secretary repeatedly used 'strong language' to say how she would tackle the problem, but delivered 'absolutely nothing'.