Taxpayers footed the bill for nearly 1,000 hijabs handed to Channel migrants in just six months, Home Office figures reveal

From the Newshound archive · first published 5 October 2026.

Home Office figures reveal that 974 hijabs were given to small-boat arrivals in the first six months of 2026, at a rate of roughly 162 per month — a pace that would put the running total at around 1,500 by now. The data came to light as French authorities confirmed that a Channel dinghy crush had killed a 10-year-old child and two women, taking this year's crossing death toll beyond 180. The obligation to supply religious and cultural clothing to migrants stems from rules introduced in 2018, before the present Labour administration took office.

Reform MP Andrew Rosindell said: 'They're coming in illegally — we shouldn't be incentivising people by making them feel like they're getting everything on a plate.'

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called on the government to 'immediately' stop the handouts, branding them 'an insult to hard-working British taxpayers.'

Clothing packs totalling more than 15,000 were handed out over the same period, although the 'one in, one out' returns arrangement with France has since been scrapped.