UK EARMARKS £700M FOR SMALL BOAT ARRIVALS UNTIL 2030 – Predictions that the Channel crossings could continue up to 2034

The Home Office has earmarked at least £700m to manage the arrival of migrants on small boats until 2030, according to previously unnoticed commercial plans.

Officials published the projections online last week, as Home Secretary James Cleverly flew to Rwanda to sign a new treaty to “stop the boats”.

They predict the Channel crossings could continue up to 2034.

Under the plans, commercial partners would run extensive services at “permanent” facilities.

A Home Office spokesperson said it would be “inappropriate to comment” on an ongoing procurement project.

But the publicly-available information, on the government’s contracts website, shows that the Home Office wants at least one major partner to help run two large facilities in Kent until at least 2030 – and potentially to 2034.

The invitation to businesses is the clearest public sign yet that officials are planning for the small boats to continue arriving.

That invitation was launched on 4 December – the day before the UK signed a new treaty with Rwanda in an attempt to kickstart a policy, already blocked by the Supreme Court, to send some cross-Channel migrants to the country.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says the new Rwanda treaty and linked legislation will stop small boats arriving in the UK. The Home Office has said its modelling indicates that almost all appeals against deportation would fail under the revised policy.

But Robert Jenrick, who recently quit as immigration minister,said the plan was “weak” and unlikely to work. MPs will vote on Mr Sunak’s new legislation on Tuesday.