Macron says he’s ‘totally committed’ to making scheme workpublished at 17:17 British Summer Time
The PM is now being asked about what guarantees he can give that the plan he’s just agreed won’t be caught up in the courts. And how will the UK select which 50 people will be returned to France.
Macron is then asked how committed he’s to making the scheme work and who’s to blame for the number of small boats crossing the Channel increasing.
Starmer addresses the final question first, saying France and the UK both have a responsibility to address the problem of illegal immigration and he won’t engage in “megaphone politics” and “finger pointing”.
In terms of the scheme, he says he won’t go into detail – suggesting discussing it could undermine how the scheme operates – but he says it’s important to see “this is a breakthrough”.
Macron steps in, agreeing France also won’t be trading blame and finger-point as he wants to find an efficient way to work together.
He says he’s “totally committed” to making the scheme work, reiterating both nations are seeking to establish a working deterrence system. It’s in the common interest, he says.