Eritreans facing BAN from entering Britain if country doesn’t accept more small boat migrants, Labour warns

8 comments 8 Next BRITAIN has threatened to ban Eritreans from entering the country if the war-torn African country does not accept more migrants from small boats. Eritrean diplomats could be stripped of their visas and face tough restrictions on their movements. Migrants arriving to Britain via small boat fell by 41 per cent compared to last year Credit: Getty Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged the Eritrean government to take back their nationals or face a hardline visa ban Credit: Alamy Advertisement The crackdown comes as the African country topped the list of nationalities arriving in Britain by small boat in the 12 months to June. They account for a staggering one in five arrivals. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urged the Eritrean government to take back their nationals or face a hardline visa ban. Sign up for the Politics newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. Ms Mahmood: “Eritrea has had every chance to accept the return of criminals and those with no right to be in the UK. Unlike other countries, it has refused. “I will not hesitate to impose further measures on other countries refusing to co-operate.” Labour’s ultimatum comes after months of efforts by Britain to solve the migrant problem with the Eritrean government behind closed doors. The warning comes after Eritrea abruptly withdrew co-operation earlier this year. Migrants arriving to Britain via small boat fell by 41 per cent compared to last year. But a staggering 20,478 people have still crossed the Channel by small boat from France . Advertisement Most read in The Sun TAKE NOTE New GCSE exam rule being rolled out in England next month in curriculum shake-up COP 'SHAME' Police Interceptors star 'went dogging with cop after sending her sexual pics' BRIT 'BRONX' Inside 'Hunger Games' estate where locals fear 'chase or kill' balaclava gangs BLING BOAST Albanian burglar poses next to £300k Rolls-Royce as he fights THIRD deportation Labour has accused the Eritrean authorities of “abruptly” withdrawing co-operation earlier this year. One migrant crossed the Channel every six minutes during the first week of October, new figures reveal. An estimated 1,739 people made the journey to Britain in just seven days – an average of more than ten every hour. 8 comments 8