Government’s ‘small boats week’ backfires as Labour lead on immigration rises

Tory attempt to capitalise on Channel crossings draws attention to immigration and strengthens opposition lead on issue

Government attempts to make capital out of the issue of Channel crossings in a special small boats week" appear to have backfired with the public, according to the latest Opinium poll for the Observer.

Small boats week", earlier this month, was dogged by a series of disasters, including figures showing record numbers of crossings; the evacuation, due to a health scare, of the Bibby Stockholm barge used to house migrants, and the deaths of at least six people when a small boat capsized and sank in the Channel.