Britain has most illegal migrants in Europe, study finds

A recent study reveals that Britain has the highest number of illegal migrants in Europe, estimating up to 745,000 individuals.

"This is more than double the 300,000 in France and ahead even of the upper estimate of 700,000 in Germany, which has the second-largest population of illegal migrants in Europe."

This includes overstayers, failed asylum seekers, and those who crossed the Channel in small boats. The Home Office reported a significant daily increase in Channel crossings, with 973 migrants on a recent Saturday.

Political pressure mounts on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to revise his migration policies after he scrapped a plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Critics argue for stronger measures against illegal migration and the smuggling gangs facilitating it. Experts link the high illegal migrant population to the UK's larger black economy, stressing the need for accurate population assessments for effective policy planning.