Just hours before Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron were set to reveal a UK-France deal, migrants were pictured across the Channel leaving for Britain.
Migrants in France head across the English Channel to the UK. (Image: GETTY)
Migrants were pictured leaving France on a small boat headed to the UK just hours before Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron were set to unveil a UK-France immigration deal. The UK and France will today announce the trial of a scheme that will see the countries operate a “one-in, one-out” policy which will result in around 800 migrants being returned to France by the end of the year.
The figure has been criticised for being just a fraction of the 44,000 who have arrived in the country since Labour’s election victory in July 2024. In return, a similar number will be brought to the UK to join family already in the country. The scheme will start in August, with the government hoping that it will lead to greater numbers being returned after the trial.
The two countries have vowed to cooperate to tackle migration (Image: Getty)
The announcement will conclude the French President’s state visit, the first by a European leader since the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016.
Speaking in Westminster on the first day of the visit, Macron said: “France and the United Kingdom have a shared responsibility to address irregular migration with humanity, solidarity and fairness.
“We will only arrive at a lasting and effective solution with action at the European level by addressing migration pull factors.”
Macron has called on the UK to address the issues which draw migrants to the UK in the first place.
Such issues are believed to include the ease with which work can be acquired, generous welfare policies for those whose applications are successful and the absence of ID cards which help to prevent detection.
