MORE than 200 migrants arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel in the seventh consecutive day of recorded journeys, latest figures show.
A total of 210 people travelled on five boats to the UK on September 8 according to Home Office data, suggesting an average of 42 people per vessel.
This brings the total number of people who have made the journey over the past week to 2,188 new arrivals amid a spell of warm weather.
Saturday September 2 marked the highest number of people to travel in a single day this year, with 872 people in 15 boats who made the crossing.
This year so far, 22,289 people have arrived in the UK via the English Channel, which still remains lower than the same date last year where 27,705 people had made the crossing by September 8.
It comes amid dry, warm and calm but hazy conditions at sea, potentially providing better crossing conditions with a rush before winter sets in.
Earlier this week, the immigration minister suggested it could be weeks before migrants are moved back on board the Bibby Stockholm barge.
Robert Jenrick told MPs asylum seekers would be moved back onto the barge in Dorset “as soon as possible”, providing safety checks showed no “cause for concern” and he expects this to take place “within weeks”.
His comments came as figures showed fresh cases of diphtheria among asylum seekers in England have been reported for the first time since January.
The first asylum seekers arrived on the Bibby barge last month but were moved off again just days later after tests revealed Legionella – the bacteria which can cause the potentially fatal Legionnaires’ disease – was present.
Since then, ministers and officials have been unable to say when migrants would be back on board.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman insisted the giant vessel is safe amid threats of legal action from firefighters.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here