Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have agreed a pilot “one in, one out” scheme for migrants who cross the Channel in small boats.
On the third and final day of the Anglo-French summit in the UK, the British prime minister and French president announced a trial of the scheme that will allow small boat migrants to be sent back to France.
In return, Britain would accept the same number of asylum seekers – who try to come to the UK by a safe route – as those who are returned to France.
Speaking next to Emmanuel Macron at a news conference in north west London, Sir Keir Starmer said it would come into force in a matter of “weeks”.
“Migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France in short order,” he said.
“In exchange for every return, a different individual will be allowed to come here via a safe route – controlled and legal – subject to strict security checks, and only open to those who have not tried to enter the UK illegally.”
The prime minister said the arrangement would begin as a “pilot”, with reports suggesting that just 50 people per week will be sent to France back across the Channel.
However, neither Mr Macron nor Sir Keir mentioned any figures in the news conference.
The announcement of the deal comes as part of Mr Macron’s high-stakes state visit to the UK – the first of a European leader since Brexit.
This morning, dozens of people arrived in the UK on a dinghy in scenes witnessed by Sky News. So far more than 21,000 people have arrived in the UK via small boats so far this year – a rise of almost 50% on the number crossing in 2024.
Both leaders have described the Channel crossings as a mutual burden and crisis that must be tackled with co-operation.
Hailing their partnership, Sir Keir said that while there was “no silver bullet” to tackle the issue, the pair could “finally turn the tables” with “a united effort, new tactics and a new level of intent”.
He said the new deal would show people that attempting to cross the Channel in small boats would be “in vain”, adding: “The jobs they have been promised in the UK will no longer exist because of the nationwide crackdown we’re delivering on illegal working which is on a completely unprecedented scale.”
Mr Macron also welcomed the deal reached with the UK, saying it was “a good agreement”.
He suggested Brexit was to blame in the uptick in the number of crossings, arguing that the UK’s departure from the European Union meant there was no way for people to be returned to mainland Europe after people crossed the Channel.
He was referring to the Dublin regulation, which the UK was signatory to when it was a member of the EU, but is no longer.
“Many people in your country explained that Brexit would make it possible to fight more effectively against illegal immigration,” Mr Macron said.
“But it’s in fact since Brexit [that] the UK has no migratory agreement with the EU.”
He added: “It creates an incentive to make the crossing, the precise opposite of what Brexit had promised.”
His words sparked condemnation from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who said the agreement was a “humiliation for Brexit Britain”.
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UK-France small boats deal agreed
“We have acted today as an EU member and bowed down to an arrogant French president,” he posted on X.
The French president also praised the prime minister for committing to reducing the “pull factors” that attract people to the UK from France – including the flexible labour market.
During a Q&A session, Sir Keir was asked whether the scheme would be effective given the large numbers of people who are making the dangerous journey across the Channel.
He responded by saying that if the pilot proved to be successful, “the numbers will ramp up”.
However, he refused to say how the pilot would select who might be returned to France, arguing it might “undermine” how the scheme would operate.