Mick Jagger and Elton John top star-studded guest list for French state banquet
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The National
24 minutes ago
- The National
'Trading people like cargo' UK-France one in, one out deal sparks fury
The Prime Minister is in crunch talks with Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, the last day of the French president's state visit to the UK, about a new migration arrangement between the two countries. Under the terms of the deal, Britain would accept migrants with links to the country in exchange for sending others back across the Channel. More than 21,000 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel so far this year, which is a record for this point in the year since data collection began in 2018. But the plans have drawn stinging criticism from human rights charities. Freedom from Torture said that a 'one in, one out' deal would be 'dehumanising'. Sile Reynolds, the charity's head of asylum advocacy, said: 'We must never forget that the men, women and children risking their lives to cross the Channel are fleeing unimaginable violence. Many are survivors of torture, and they tell us that finding a place of safety means being reunited with family and living in a country that values human rights and fairness. 'This is true not just for a select few, to be cherry-picked for transfer to the UK under the agreement with France, but for so many of those who currently have no safe and accessible way to find protection in the UK. READ MORE: Corbyn-Sultana party clarifies Scottish independence stance "A system that horse-trades vulnerable human beings like cargo is not only unfair and dehumanising but fails the test of ensuring safety and access to protection for those who really need it.' She warned that if the 'UK shirks its responsibilities', other countries would be emboldened to do the same, adding: 'The inevitable consequence of this race to the bottom is the increased risk that survivors of torture and trauma are pushed back to countries with appalling human rights records, or even back into the hands of their torturers. 'Instead of more deterrence gimmicks, the Government should instead show true global leadership by rebuilding an asylum system that is fair, effective, and compassionate.' Asylum Matters executive director Louise Calvey said: 'Another grubby trade in human lives will do nothing more than remove people from this country back into the hands of people smugglers, back to French shores where they'll face the escalating police violence that has been agreed alongside this deal – violence that will cost people their lives. 'The only way to stop people from making dangerous journeys is to give them safe routes to seek sanctuary.'
Spectator
42 minutes ago
- Spectator
It's crunch time for Starmer's ‘one in, one out' migrant deal
The entente is still very much cordiale. Talks between Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron are ongoing on the third day of the Anglo-French summit. The key issue is migration: how best to stop the constant flow of Channel crossings that have seen 20,000 arrive here this year already? Like Rwanda, this deal faces numerous practical and political hurdles Both, publicly, are singing from the same hymn sheet, with lashings of Gallic sweetness. In remarks this morning, the French President praised the relationship between London and Paris. Both nations, he insisted, share 'the same resolve to fight' people smugglers. The Prime Minister spoke, again, of 'new tactics' and a 'new intent to tackle illegal migration and break the business model of the criminal gangs'. The big solution, expected to be unveiled later today, is a 'one-in, one-out' deal. For each individual taken back, France would transfer one asylum seeker to the UK, who would likely be someone with a family connection or genuine reason to seek sanctuary here. British officials are, understandably, pushing for a high number; the French are believed to be more resistant. The hope is that if a return deal works, it would deter future crossings, allowing Starmer to claim that he, finally, has 'stopped the boats'. Of course, like Rwanda, this deal faces numerous practical and political hurdles. Who decides who comes in and out? What does the deal mean for the EU and the Dublin Convention? Is such a deal even legal under the UN Refugee Convention? Expect those questions and more to be put to Starmer and Macron when they appear at a joint press conference later today.
North Wales Chronicle
an hour ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Macron says UK and France ‘share same will' amid crunch talks over migrant deal
The French president said the UK and France 'share the same will' to address the issue at the start of a Franco-British summit at Downing Street. It came after the pair said a 'new deterrent' was needed to stop small boats crossing the English Channel. The Prime Minister hopes the French president will sign up to a 'one in, one out' deal on Thursday, the last day of Mr Macron's state visit to the UK. Under the terms of the deal, Britain would accept migrants with links to the country in exchange for sending others back across the Channel. Sir Keir said the meeting was about working together on shared priorities. He said: 'For us, it's about delivering the changes that the British people want to see, and we will agree the situation in the Channel cannot go on as it is. 'So we're bringing new tactics into play and a new level of intent to tackle illegal migration and break the business model of the criminal gangs.' Speaking in French, Mr Macron said: 'We share the same will to tackle networks of illegal immigration through great co-ordination with other European countries. 'We have often mentioned France is the last destination before Great Britain for these men and women who often journey through paths of misery and are exploited by traffickers. 'We will work with countries of first entry in Europe (as) our intention is also to engage all countries who share a responsibility alongside us.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband were also at the summit. Defence Secretary John Healey, who was also at the summit, told ITV's Good Morning Britain that footage of French authorities puncturing a migrant dinghy to stop it from setting off last week was a 'recognition' that France has agreed to change its rules to intervene in shallow waters. To reduce small boat crossings, he said those changes need to be 'fully implemented' alongside new legislation, building up the new border security command, and any steps to be announced by Sir Keir and Mr Macron after the summit. French newspaper Le Monde has reported that some 50 migrants a week would initially be returned to France under the terms of the proposed deal, which it described as largely symbolic. If such a deal were struck, it would only result in the return of a fraction of the 21,000 people who have made the Channel crossing so far in 2025, a record for this point in a year. But it would also represent a concession by the French that such returns are possible, after years of MPs on the right of British politics insisting France is a 'safe' country where migrants can be sent back to. The Times reported the scheme would be scaled up after an initial pilot had shown 'proof of concept', citing Government sources. In return, Mr Macron is said to be pushing for the UK to do more to address 'pull factors' which are attracting people to make the dangerous crossing to the English coast. When Mr Macron and Sir Keir met in Downing Street on Wednesday, the small boats crisis appeared to be the mainstay of their conversations. The pair agreed the crossings are a 'shared priority that requires shared solutions', a Downing Street spokesperson said. They also agreed on the need for a 'new deterrent to break the business model of these gangs' and are aiming for 'concrete progress' on the matter. Following the French-UK summit, the two leaders will host a call with coalition of the willing partners, the proposed peacekeeping mission to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine in future. In a sign of close alignment on defence, Britain and France have announced they will buy new supplies of Storm Shadow missiles, which both have loaned to Ukraine to strike targets deep inside Russia. The two nations will also work closely to develop a successor to the long-range missile, the Ministry of Defence said.
