Claim: The vast majority of people coming across the Channel are economic migrants, they are not asylum seekers.
Fact-check: No evidence 'vast majority' of people crossing Channel in small boats are economic migrants - Full Fact
Verdict: there is no evidence for this. research carried out by the refugee council shows the majority of nationals from the countries most represented in small boat arrivals are granted asylum. the home office doesn't publish statistics covering asylum claims following small boat arrivals specifically.
Organisation: Full Fact
Author: Sarah Turnnidge
Date published: 2022-04-04T00:00:00