Germany’s Bild mocks UK over small boats as crossings top 30,000 — Mahmood vows tougher line

Date: 9 September 2025

TL;DR: Germany’s Bild says post-Brexit Britain has “lost control” of migration after small-boat arrivals hit 30,100 this year — up 37% on 2024 and 2023 at the same point. New Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood promises to go “further and faster,” eyeing legal tweaks to ECHR implementation, potential visa suspensions for non-cooperative countries, and temporary accommodation on military sites.

What happened

• UK small-boat arrivals reached 30,100 for 2025 after 1,097 people crossed in 17 boats on Saturday.
• German tabloid Bild framed the surge as proof Britain faces the “ruins” of its migration policy, adding that health and housing “can’t keep pace.”

Government response

• Shabana Mahmood (on day three as Home Secretary) says the government will:
  • Move “further and faster” to curb small-boat crossings.
  • Propose changes to domestic legislation and guidance on how the ECHR is applied, arguing the balance between rights and border security is “not in the right place.”
  • Consider suspending visas for countries refusing to take back nationals under returns deals.
  • Use military bases for “temporary but adequate” asylum accommodation while capacity is strained.

Why it matters

• The 2025 pace sets a new record for this stage of the year, intensifying political pressure and international scrutiny.
• Any recalibration of ECHR implementation or visa policy would mark a significant shift in the UK’s migration toolbox.