Latest news with #small boats
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Channel boats deal shambles: Yvette Cooper admits she DOESN'T KNOW how many migrants will be returned to France - as EU threatens to block 'merry go round' pact
Yvette Cooper today admitted she does not know how many Channel migrants will be returned to France under Labour's vaunted deal. The Home Secretary said the numbers had not even been 'fixed' for the pilot stage of the 'one in, one out' scheme - after negotiations went down to the wire. The acknowledgement came amid claims that the pact agreed by Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron during his state visit to the UK is already unravelling. There are questions over whether the scheme - which would see Britain send some Channel arrivals back but agree to take other asylum seekers from France - could even be blocked by the EU Commission. Unveiling the plan alongside Mr Macron last night, Sir Keir claimed it was 'ground-breaking' and would 'prove the concept that if you come over by small boats, then you will be returned to France '. But as the Anglo-French summit was being held, hundreds more migrants were crossing the Channel from northern France. Border experts said the proposals were 'scratching a very bare minimum of the surface'. Leaks had suggested 50 migrants a week, around one in 17 arrivals, would be sent back to France initially. But that was seemingly not signed off by the leaders. Touring broadcast studios this morning, Ms Cooper said: 'The numbers are not fixed, even for this pilot phase that we are starting now. 'So this will be a programme that we roll out step-by-step, and we will provide updates as we go. 'But we are going to do this in a steady way.' Despite signs EU states could object to the UK-France deal, Ms Cooper told LBC she was confident Brussels would let it go ahead. 'We have been talking to the EU commissioners. We've also been talking to other European interior ministers and governments throughout this process,' she said. 'The French interior minister and I have been speaking about this to develop this since October of last year, and the EU commissioners have been very supportive. 'So that is why we have designed this in a way to work, not just for the UK and France, but in order to fit with all their concerns as well.' She added: 'Because we've done that work all the way through, we do expect the EU Commission to continue to be supportive.' Ms Cooper also played down Mr Macron's jibe that Brexit had made tackling illegal immigration harder, arguing people smugglers would 'weaponise anything'. Since Labour came to power, 44,359 small-boat migrants have reached Dover, including 21,117 so far this year – a 50 per cent leap on the same period last year. The figures do not include up to 400 arrivals who made it to British soil yesterday, just as the two leaders announced the migrant plan in a press conference. Sir Keir said the governments were taking 'hard-headed, aggressive action'. 'For the very first time, 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.' But the PM failed to say how quickly migrants will be sent back in total or on a weekly basis when the scheme launches, which he said would be in the 'coming weeks'. Mr Macron said the deal needed legal ratification first, without putting a time frame on it. Critics have derided the concept of a 'migrant merry go round'. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the deal with France is a 'gimmick' which will be 'no deterrent whatsoever'. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'What they announced yesterday is a gimmick, just like 'smash the gangs' was a gimmick as well. 'And the reason it's a gimmick is the numbers will be tiny. 'It's been reported it will be only 50 a week, something the Prime Minister didn't contradict when it was put to him yesterday. 'Now 50 a week only represents 6% of people crossing the Channel, which means that 94% under this new scheme proposed, 94% will be allowed to stay and quite clearly, allowing 94% of illegal immigrants to stay in the UK will be no deterrent whatsoever.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Macron blames Brexit for rise in illegal immigration
Emmanuel Macron blamed Brexit for a rise in the number of small boats crossing the Channel, as he and Sir Keir Starmer announced a new 'one in, one out' deal to return migrants. In a joint press conference with the Prime Minister on Thursday, the French president said the British people had been 'sold a lie' that leaving the EU would 'make it possible to fight more effectively against illegal immigration'. Pointing to the fact that the UK had 'no migratory deal' with the EU after Brexit, Mr Macron said: 'It creates an incentive to make the crossing, the precise opposite of what Brexit had promised.' His comments came at the end of a three-day state visit, during which he and Sir Keir agreed a landmark deal to return people arriving in the UK via small boats in exchange for people still in France who had a connection to Britain. Mr Macron also hailed previous success in preventing illegal crossings of the Channel by road and rail prior to Brexit. He said: 'Let's recall a few years ago, it was the subject of daily comments. We managed to fully close off these routes.' Boat crossings have increased sharply since Britain formally left the EU, rising from 1,843 people making the journey in 2019 to 28,526 in 2021 and 45,774 in 2022. So far this year, 21,117 people have made the crossing, with more arriving on Thursday as 2025 looks set to be a record year for arrivals. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage spent Thursday in the Channel observing small boats crossing from France. During his joint press conference with Mr Macron, Sir Keir appeared to mock Mr Farage, saying it was 'of some significance' that 'whilst we have been working hard to get the returns agreement, others have been simply taking pictures of the problem'. The announcement of the deal brought an angry response from Mr Farage, who had already attacked Mr Macron in the House of Commons chamber on Wednesday as 'arrogant' and 'anti-Brexit'. The Reform leader wrote on social media: 'This agreement is a humiliation for Brexit Britain. 'We have acted today as an EU member and bowed down to an arrogant French President.'
The Independent
7 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Macron says UK and France ‘share same will' amid crunch talks over migrant deal
Sir Keir Starmer said the UK would tackle illegal migration with 'new tactics' and a 'new level of intent' before crunch talks to hammer out a deal with Emmanuel Macron. The French president said the UK and France 'share the same will' to address the issue at the start of a Franco-British summit at Downing Street. It came after the pair said a 'new deterrent' was needed to stop small boats crossing the English Channel. The Prime Minister hopes the French president will sign up to a 'one in, one out' deal on Thursday, the last day of Mr Macron's state visit to the UK. Under the terms of the deal, Britain would accept migrants with links to the country in exchange for sending others back across the Channel. Sir Keir said the meeting was about working together on shared priorities. He said: 'For us, it's about delivering the changes that the British people want to see, and we will agree the situation in the Channel cannot go on as it is. 'So we're bringing new tactics into play and a new level of intent to tackle illegal migration and break the business model of the criminal gangs.' Speaking in French, Mr Macron said: 'We share the same will to tackle networks of illegal immigration through great co-ordination with other European countries. 'We have often mentioned France is the last destination before Great Britain for these men and women who often journey through paths of misery and are exploited by traffickers. 'We will work with countries of first entry in Europe (as) our intention is also to engage all countries who share a responsibility alongside us.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband were also at the summit. Defence Secretary John Healey, who was also at the summit, told ITV's Good Morning Britain that footage of French authorities puncturing a migrant dinghy to stop it from setting off last week was a 'recognition' that France has agreed to change its rules to intervene in shallow waters. To reduce small boat crossings, he said those changes need to be 'fully implemented' alongside new legislation, building up the new border security command, and any steps to be announced by Sir Keir and Mr Macron after the summit. French newspaper Le Monde has reported that some 50 migrants a week would initially be returned to France under the terms of the proposed deal, which it described as largely symbolic. If such a deal were struck, it would only result in the return of a fraction of the 21,000 people who have made the Channel crossing so far in 2025, a record for this point in a year. But it would also represent a concession by the French that such returns are possible, after years of MPs on the right of British politics insisting France is a 'safe' country where migrants can be sent back to. The Times reported the scheme would be scaled up after an initial pilot had shown 'proof of concept', citing Government sources. In return, Mr Macron is said to be pushing for the UK to do more to address 'pull factors' which are attracting people to make the dangerous crossing to the English coast. When Mr Macron and Sir Keir met in Downing Street on Wednesday, the small boats crisis appeared to be the mainstay of their conversations. The pair agreed the crossings are a 'shared priority that requires shared solutions', a Downing Street spokesperson said. They also agreed on the need for a 'new deterrent to break the business model of these gangs' and are aiming for 'concrete progress' on the matter. Following the French-UK summit, the two leaders will host a call with coalition of the willing partners, the proposed peacekeeping mission to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine in future. In a sign of close alignment on defence, Britain and France have announced they will buy new supplies of Storm Shadow missiles, which both have loaned to Ukraine to strike targets deep inside Russia. The two nations will also work closely to develop a successor to the long-range missile, the Ministry of Defence said.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Macron says UK and France ‘share same will' amid crunch talks over migrant deal
Sir Keir Starmer said the UK would tackle illegal migration with 'new tactics' and a 'new level of intent' before crunch talks to hammer out a deal with Emmanuel Macron. The French president said the UK and France 'share the same will' to address the issue at the start of a Franco-British summit at Downing Street. It came after the pair said a 'new deterrent' was needed to stop small boats crossing the English Channel. The Prime Minister hopes the French president will sign up to a 'one in, one out' deal on Thursday, the last day of Mr Macron's state visit to the UK. Under the terms of the deal, Britain would accept migrants with links to the country in exchange for sending others back across the Channel. Sir Keir said the meeting was about working together on shared priorities. He said: 'For us, it's about delivering the changes that the British people want to see, and we will agree the situation in the Channel cannot go on as it is. 'So we're bringing new tactics into play and a new level of intent to tackle illegal migration and break the business model of the criminal gangs.' Speaking in French, Mr Macron said: 'We share the same will to tackle networks of illegal immigration through great co-ordination with other European countries. 'We have often mentioned France is the last destination before Great Britain for these men and women who often journey through paths of misery and are exploited by traffickers. 'We will work with countries of first entry in Europe (as) our intention is also to engage all countries who share a responsibility alongside us.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband were also at the summit. Defence Secretary John Healey, who was also at the summit, told ITV's Good Morning Britain that footage of French authorities puncturing a migrant dinghy to stop it from setting off last week was a 'recognition' that France has agreed to change its rules to intervene in shallow waters. To reduce small boat crossings, he said those changes need to be 'fully implemented' alongside new legislation, building up the new border security command, and any steps to be announced by Sir Keir and Mr Macron after the summit. French newspaper Le Monde has reported that some 50 migrants a week would initially be returned to France under the terms of the proposed deal, which it described as largely symbolic. If such a deal were struck, it would only result in the return of a fraction of the 21,000 people who have made the Channel crossing so far in 2025, a record for this point in a year. But it would also represent a concession by the French that such returns are possible, after years of MPs on the right of British politics insisting France is a 'safe' country where migrants can be sent back to. The Times reported the scheme would be scaled up after an initial pilot had shown 'proof of concept', citing Government sources. In return, Mr Macron is said to be pushing for the UK to do more to address 'pull factors' which are attracting people to make the dangerous crossing to the English coast. When Mr Macron and Sir Keir met in Downing Street on Wednesday, the small boats crisis appeared to be the mainstay of their conversations. The pair agreed the crossings are a 'shared priority that requires shared solutions', a Downing Street spokesperson said. They also agreed on the need for a 'new deterrent to break the business model of these gangs' and are aiming for 'concrete progress' on the matter. Following the French-UK summit, the two leaders will host a call with coalition of the willing partners, the proposed peacekeeping mission to deter Russia from attacking Ukraine in future. In a sign of close alignment on defence, Britain and France have announced they will buy new supplies of Storm Shadow missiles, which both have loaned to Ukraine to strike targets deep inside Russia. The two nations will also work closely to develop a successor to the long-range missile, the Ministry of Defence said.
