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On Monday, a record 1,295 refugees arrived on Englands south coast after crossing the Channel in 27 small boats.

It was the highest daily total since records began, and prompted familiar comments from the Home Office, who said the numbers were unacceptable and it was all the people smugglers fault. In truth, however, the Government is now compelled by its own figures to admit that its asylum policies, which promised to deter refugees from crossing the Channel, have failed.

But it is not just a question of failure. Refugees sent to Rwanda could be forced to join the countrys army and sent to fight in neighbouring states, it was revealed in court disclosures last month. Despite this, Tory leadership hopefuls Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak have doubled down on the plan because it is popular among Conservative Party members.

To promise to send refugees to a foreign country with a poor human rights record would be grotesque under any circumstances; but in this case it is all the worse because the evidence shows Channel crossings will continue regardless. The Governments policies may in fact be persuading more people to make the Channel crossing.

We know that the Rwanda plan is not a deterrent, because since it was announced, small boat crossings have reached this record high. But Care4Calais has its own evidence from refugees in northern France, too. From 1-7 August, our volunteers surveyed 270 refugees in Calais and Dunkirk camps. We found that 61 per cent of refugees were aware of the Rwanda policy, but the vast majority of them 85 per cent said it would not stop them trying to claim asylum in the UK. Some 89 per cent per cent said they wouldnt consider trying another country in Europe. And crucially, 84 per cent said that the Rwanda policy wouldnt have stopped them leaving their own country if they had known about it before setting off.

The great deterrent will not work because of another policy ministers rarely mention in public. All official asylum claim routes for refugees, such as those in northern France, have now been shut off by the UK Government. Fewer than one per cent of refugees are eligible for official schemes. That causes the crisis we now see, with people driven into the hands of people smugglers and record numbers of terrified people risking their lives on the cold, dark water of the English Channel.

UK government policy is driving up the numbers they claim to be so intent on reducing. Desperate refugees do not have any meaningful choices. They are victims of the very worst tragedies; they have seen their families killed in conflicts; they have been tortured and abused by tyrants; and they have survived horrendous journeys. These refugees are desperately seeking safety. In most cases, they are trying to reach the UK because they have family and friends here who can shelter them.

It can seem a hopeless situation. But there is a fairly simple solution. Of the 20,000 people who have risked everything by crossing the Channel on boats so far this year, not one has been a Ukrainian citizen. Why? Because Ukrainians are given visas for safe passage to the UK.

If Truss or Sunak are serious about stopping dangerous boat journeys and breaking the smugglers business model, the answer is clear: offer refugees from other countries a process like the scheme for Ukraine. Screen them in Europe and provide visas for safe travel to those with a viable asylum claim. They can then get to the UK and claim asylum on arrival without risking their lives. This would put people smugglers out of business and end the chaos on the Channel.

The winner of the Conservative leadership contest will be announced on 5 September the same day our joint court action against the Rwanda policy returns to the High Court. If the next Prime Minister wishes to solve the problem that has bedeviled the Government for more than a decade, they should heed mounting evidence and abandon the Rwanda plan as soon as they enter 10 Downing Street.

Their immediate priorities should be delivering a workable solution to the Channel crossing with visas for safe passage, alongside tackling the cost-of-living crisis at home.

No one will miss the Rwanda plan. When the crossings end, as they so easily could, everyone will be happy even Conservative Party members.

Clare Moseley is the founder of refugee charity Care4Calais

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The Rwanda plan isn't working but there is a simple solution to the migrant crisis - iNews