Starmer and Macron confirm new small boats return scheme

At a joint press conference in London between the UK Prime Minister and the French President, they set out the deal they had struck to tackle cross-Channel migrants.

Mr Starmer revealed that this “pilot” scheme will come into force in a matter of “weeks”.

As reported by Sky News, he said: “Migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France in short order.

“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.”

Reports suggest that just 50 people per week will be sent to France, back across the Channel.

The UK’s new migration deal with France will show people that attempting to cross the Channel in small boats will be “in vain”, Mr Starmer has said.

He added: “This will show others trying to make the same journey that it will be in vain, and 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.

“The president and I have agreed that this pilot will be implemented in the coming weeks.”

Mr Starmer also made note that stopping small boats crossing the Channel will require working with other countries.

He told the press conference: “I know some people will still ask, why should we take anyone in? So let me address that directly.

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“We accept genuine asylum seekers because it is right that we offer a haven to those in most dire need.

“But there is also something else, something more practical which is that we simply cannot solve a challenge like stopping the boats by acting alone and telling our allies that we won’t play ball.

“That is why today’s agreement is so important, because we will solve this, like so many of our problems, by working together.”