Latest news with #ChannelCrossing
Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Times
UK and France discuss ‘one-in, one-out' migrant returns
Britain and France are preparing to announce a one-in, one-out migrant returns deal in an attempt to break the model of the smuggling gangs. Sir Keir Starmer and President Macron are working on an arrangement that would allow Britain to send back illegal migrants who cross the Channel in small boats to France. In return Britain would accept migrants with a legitimate case for joining family already in the UK. The plans for the pilot could be announced as soon as next week to coincide with the first anniversary of Starmer's premiership, although other government sources suggested that later in the summer was more likely. A government source said: 'It'll start as a pilot but it's to prove the point that if you pay for your passage on a boat then you could quite quickly find yourself back in France.' Despite only being a pilot, it would mark a significant moment in relations with the French over the small boats crisis as it is the first time that France has shown its willingness to take back migrants from the UK. Talks over a returns deal have been led by Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, who has been credited with strengthening relations with France through her close partnership with Bruno Retailleau, the French interior minister. Under the deal, a joint UK-France processing system would be set up that would identify migrants who have a valid claim for family reunification in Britain. For each migrant relocated to Britain, an illegal migrant would be returned to locations across France, away from its northern coast. Any migrant who makes a return journey to the UK would be immediately identified through their biometric details and sent back once again. The deal will begin through a small pilot scheme designed to show 'proof of concept'. Government sources said that they were determined not to repeat the 'mistakes' of the previous government's Rwanda scheme, that they believe overpromised in terms of solving the small boats crisis. They pointed to other progress that they hope will combine to start reducing the numbers of migrants arriving on small boats amid a record high of 18,518 this year, which is 42 per cent higher than this time last year. French police are due to start implementing a law that will allow them to intercept migrant boats up to 300 metres into the sea within days in another move that UK ministers hope will reduce the numbers crossing. However, the Conservatives branded the limited plans for a one-in, one-out deal 'pathetic' and said that the French could not be trusted given the £480 million, three-year deal that Britain paid to France to bolster security, which has only led to increasing numbers making the crossing. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said: 'We pay the French half a billion pounds to wave the boats off from Calais, and in return we get a migrant merry-go-round where the same number still come here. 'The French are failing to stop the boats at sea, failing to return them like the Belgians do, and now instead of demanding real enforcement, Labour are trying a one in, one out gimmick. 'If Labour were serious, they would not have scrapped the returns deterrent the National Crime Agency said we needed — instead, they've surrendered our immigration system.' Macron is making a state visit to the UK between July 8-10 along with his wife, Brigitte. The couple will be hosted by the King and Queen at Windsor Castle. The French president will also meet Starmer for talks about sealing the two country's security partnership and work on combating the people smuggling gangs that facilitate Channel crossings. Downing Street refused to comment on the specifics of the deal but said that 'our relationship with the French is stronger than it has been in a number of years'. The final details of a migrants return deal have yet to be agreed and government sources said they were wary of announcing a deal before it is ready to be implemented because of the risk it would lead to a rush in crossings. Smuggling gangs have in the past offered 'closing down sale' deals to migrants whereby they advertised discounted prices if they signed up before a particular new scheme is introduced. Retailleau first opened the door to a migrant exchange deal for the first time in April during a visit to the UK. He said: 'I do think that there must be an agreement that we can come to, a bilateral agreement between governments. 'Because we see many of those who land on British soil don't come back. Even when one has crossed the Channel, if one is sent back that will send a clear message.' The French interior ministry confirmed later in the month that it would work on the basis of a 'one-for-one principle'.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
We cannot trust the French to solve our migration woes
A new deal with France over illegal migration is to be announced when Emmanuel Macron makes his state visit next month. Still being negotiated with Bruno Retailleau, the French interior minister, this may offer some relief to the beleaguered communities directly impacted by the record numbers now landing daily on the south coast. The detail matters, of course, but the bottom line is that for every migrant who crosses the Channel, Britain would be entitled to return another: 'one in, one out'. This would certainly be an improvement on the status quo. Most people are heartily sick of watching French border forces and navy turn a blind eye to the mass exodus from their shores to ours. So far this year, more than 18,000 illegals have arrived here by boat, despite the British paying the French up to half a million pounds a day to stop them. We are now asked to believe that this scandalous state of affairs is about to change overnight. Yet as one of its first acts, Labour cancelled the Rwanda scheme. For all its faults, that plan offered both a speedy remedy and a powerful deterrent to unlawful migration. The deal now being negotiated with France, by contrast, promises no such thing. What is to stop illegal migrants who are returned to France from trying again? The odds on success will still be high. Compared to the strong likelihood of being sent to Rwanda, many will fancy their chances under this deal. However cordial the new entente may be, the security of our borders will be at the mercy of whoever is in charge in Paris. History suggests that this might not be the most reliable basis for British immigration policy.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Border crisis deepens as over 1,000 migrants cross Channel in just 48 hours despite France upping patrols
MORE than 1,000 migrants have crossed the Channel in small boats in just 48 hours. They arrived in 15 dinghies — despite French police ramping up beach patrols and deploying tear-gas to deter launches. 2 2 Home Office figures show 437 crossed in seven small boats on Friday, followed by 583 in eight the next day. It brought the total for the week to 2,083, and the tally for the year so far to 18,400 — up nearly 6,000 compared with this time in 2024. The surge heaps huge pressure on PM Sir Keir Starmer, who last week admitted the situation was 'deteriorating'. French officers were seen ramping up tactics on the beaches, firing gas at groups preparing to launch. But some stood by as migrants waded into the sea and clambered aboard dinghies unchallenged. The PM and French leaders Emmanuel Macron are expected to hold a summit next month focused on tackling the problem. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said Labour has 'totally lost control of our borders' after scrapping the Rwanda deterrent 'before it even started'. He added: 'Every single immigrant needs to be removed to a location outside Europe the minute they arrive. 'We need to repeal the Human Rights Act to stop illegal immigrants and foreign criminals abusing our rules to stay. 'And we should suspend the fishing deal until the French actually do what they are supposed to and stop these boats at sea.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
More than 1,000 migrants cross Channel in small boats over two days
More than 1,000 migrants have arrived in the UK over two days having crossed the Channel in small boats, according to Home Office figures. Home Office statistics say 437 people made the crossing on Friday, June 20, in seven boats while on Saturday a further 583 crossed in eight boats bringing the total for the two days to 1,020. This brings the total so far this week to 2,083 and the total for the year so far to 18,400. This compares to 12,644 by the same date in 2024, 10,601 in 2023 and 11,739 in 2022. The latest arrivals come despite the French appearing to take a tougher stance on their beaches. Also Sir Keir Starmer said this week that the situation was 'deteriorating' and threatened a visa crackdown. The Prime Minister signalled that countries which did not do enough to tackle the irregular migration crisis, for example by taking back failed asylum seekers, could face repercussions in the numbers of visas issued to their citizens. Sir Keir's message came as French police were seen to employ more robust tactics on the beaches this week including using teargas. But they were also seen to stand by and watch once migrants had entered the water to board a dinghy in the hope of crossing the English Channel.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
More than 1,000 migrants cross Channel in small boats over two days
More than 1,000 migrants have arrived in the UK over two days having crossed the Channel in small boats, according to Home Office figures. Home Office statistics say 437 people made the crossing on Friday, June 20, in seven boats while on Saturday a further 583 crossed in eight boats bringing the total for the two days to 1,020. This brings the total so far this week to 2,083 and the total for the year so far to 18,400. This compares to 12,644 by the same date in 2024, 10,601 in 2023 and 11,739 in 2022. The latest arrivals come despite the French appearing to take a tougher stance on their beaches. Also Sir Keir Starmer said this week that the situation was 'deteriorating' and threatened a visa crackdown. The Prime Minister signalled that countries which did not do enough to tackle the irregular migration crisis, for example by taking back failed asylum seekers, could face repercussions in the numbers of visas issued to their citizens. Sir Keir's message came as French police were seen to employ more robust tactics on the beaches this week including using teargas. But they were also seen to stand by and watch once migrants had entered the water to board a dinghy in the hope of crossing the English Channel.
