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Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sees a returns deal as part of a wider effort to prevent dangerous migrant Channel crossings.

The schemes have been criticised as too slow and many Afghans have been in hotels since coming to the UK.

Labour has said people smugglers are “running rings” around the government’s efforts to stem the tide of small boats crossing the Channel after six migrants died and more than 500 others arrived on UK shores on Saturday alone.

When you get behind the public soundbites, you hear an ugly ideology that has scant sympathy for those who risk it all, or even die, says Enver Solomon of the Refugee Council

The latest Home Office figures take the total for the past three days alone to more than 1,600 amid improved weather conditions.

Government accused of being ‘increasingly shambolic’ on crisis – but some Tories point finger of blame at French

Government has ‘no problem’ hiring more vessels, says minister as pressure grows on PM to tackle small boats after Channel deaths

"Crossing the Channel, it's playing with our lives," Hajji Mahmud acknowledged. But despite the dangers, the Afghan migrant remained determined to attempt the crossing, even after the deaths of at least six of his countrymen early Saturday when their vessel sank.

Campaigners described the incident as an ‘appalling and preventable tragedy’ while MPs called for action to stop criminal gangs facilitating the boats

Campaigners described the incident as an ‘appalling and preventable tragedy’ while MPs called for action to stop criminal gangs facilitating the boats

Campaigners described the incident as an ‘appalling and preventable tragedy’ while MPs called for action to stop criminal gangs facilitating the boats