Robert Jenrick attacks Keir Starmer after latest Channel small boat tragedy | Politics | News

Robert Jenrick has attacked Sir Keir Starmer following the latest small boat tragedy in the Channel.

A baby died and 65 people were rescued after a migrant boat struggled to make the dangerous crossing from France yesterday.

Conservative leader hopeful Mr Jenrick criticized the Prime Minister for canceling the Rwandan deportation plan.

He said: “We have seen more deaths this year than ever before. Starmer is sentencing people to death for his own ideology.

“Instead of reinforcing Rwanda’s scheme to dissuade people from making the trip, he scrapped the whole thing because he didn’t come up with the idea.

“Now European countries are trying to do the same thing. It’s a national emergency and he’s playing politics with it.”

The incident occurred off the coast of Wissant in the Pas-de-Calais region on Thursday night.

Those rescued were taken back to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

A French navy patrol boat and a helicopter were used in the rescue and recovery operation.

The baby was found unconscious after the incident and was later pronounced dead.

Authorities said searches are ongoing to find more missing people.

An investigation was launched by the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Boulogne-sur-Mer.

The baby’s death is the 45th reported by the French coast guard this year.

A total of 27,509 people have arrived in the UK in small boats so far this year – 5% more than the equivalent number last year.