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.
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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.
