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'.
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