UK and France agree to send some migrants arriving in Britain by boat back to France
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U.K. and France agree to swap migrants in ‘one in, one out’ deal
Every year, thousands of migrants attempt to enter Britain from France by crossing the English Channel in small boats. Britain will send arriving migrants who cannot prove a family connection to the United Kingdom back to France. In exchange for each asylum seeker returned, Britain will grant asylum to one migrant in France who can prove aFamily connection to U.K. The agreement came at the tail end of French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to the U.S.
Under the terms of the deal, Britain will send arriving migrants who cannot prove a family connection to the United Kingdom back to France. In exchange for each asylum seeker returned, Britain will grant asylum to one migrant in France who can prove a family connection to the U.K.
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The agreement came at the tail end of French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit.
“This will show others trying to make the same journey that it will be in vain,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a joint news conference with Macron on Thursday, calling the plan “groundbreaking.”
During the plan’s pilot stage, Britain will send up to 50 migrants to France each week, according to Le Monde.
Cross-channel migration has been a humanitarian and political headache for both London and Paris. About 20,000 asylum seekers have crossed the English Channel this year, a 50 percent increase over this time in 2024. The migrants, who travel in overcrowded small boats often arranged by increasingly professionalized smuggling gangs, are at frequent risk of capsizing in rough seas and freezing water.
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Successive British governments have struggled to stem illegal migration into the country. The previous Conservative government pledged to “Stop the Boats,” only to see what was then a record-high number of crossings and a resounding defeat in the July 2024 parliamentary elections.
The current left-wing Labour government under Starmer has also made stopping the crossings a priority, at times pivoting to the right on immigration. Starmer drew condemnation from the left following a speech last month in which he warned that Britain would become an “island of strangers” if migration were to continue unchecked.
Illegal migration into Europe has steadily fallen since 2023, when more than 380,000 migrants entered the region.
Starmer says ‘one in, one out’ migrant deal with France to begin within weeks
‘One in, one out’, as Starmer and Macron unveil new migrant deal. More than 250 migrants took advantage of calm seas to arrive in Dover. Macron also declared that the UK and France will coordinate nuclear deterrence for the first time, after also aligning defence interests to buy more cruise missiles. We’re ending our live coverage here for the day.
Adam Goldsmith
Live reporter
Image source, Getty Images
On the final day of his UK state visit, French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a new initiative to tackle small boat crossings, hand-in-hand with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
As more than 250 migrants took advantage of calm seas to arrive in Dover, Starmer unveiled a “one in, one out” policy for new arrivals, which he hopes will take effect within weeks.
This will see migrants arriving on small boats returned to France, in exchange for asylum seekers who have not tried to enter the UK illegally – our correspondent says this is an “experiment”, but one the government thinks is worth trying.
Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp, however, says the deal offers “no deterrent at all”, while Reform leader Nigel Farage – who spent the day on the seas near Dover – calls it a “humiliation for Brexit Britain”.
We’re still awaiting details of how exactly the new plans on immigration will work, but our home editor writes that it is just the first step in a potentially perilous journey.
Amid the agreement on immigration, Macron also declared that the UK and France will coordinate nuclear deterrence for the first time, after also aligning defence interests to buy more cruise missiles.
As Macron heads back to Paris, we’re ending our live coverage here for the day. For more on the details of the new migration deal, you can check out our news story, which will be kept up to date with all the developments.
Starmer says ‘one in, one out’ deal with Macron to stop migrant boat crossings will start within weeks: Latest
Sir Keir Starmer announces ‘groundbreaking’ migrant returns scheme to begin ‘in weeks’ The agreement to return small boats migrants in exchange for asylum seekers in France was announced at a joint press conference on Thursday. The UK and France have also signed a declaration agreeing to coordinate their nuclear deterrents. Border Force vessels were sent in response to a number of boats on Thursday morning.
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Sir Keir Starmer has announced a “groundbreaking” one in, one out migrant deal with Emmanuel Macron that is set to start within weeks.
The agreement to return small boats migrants in exchange for asylum seekers in France was announced at a joint press conference on Thursday to round off the French president’s three-day state visit to the UK.
Sir Keir told reporters: “There is no silver bullet here, but with a united effort, new tactics and a new level of intent, we can finally turn the tables.
“So I am pleased to announce our agreement today on a groundbreaking returns pilot. For the very first time, migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France in short order.”
He added: “The president and I have agreed that this pilot will be implemented in the coming weeks.”
The UK and France have also signed a declaration agreeing to coordinate their nuclear deterrents, the prime minister said.
Meanwhile, migrants have been crossing the English Channel in small boats to Dover. Border Force vessels were sent in response to a number of boats on Thursday morning, according to HM coastguard.
Starmer and Macron agree ‘one in, one out’ small boat migrants return deal
Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron agree pilot scheme for small boat migrants. In return, Britain will accept the same number of asylum seekers as those sent back to France. Deal will come into force in a matter of “weeks”, according to Sir Keir. So far more than 21,000 people have arrived in the UK via small boats this year. This is a rise of almost 50% on the number crossing in 2024. Sky News understands that around 50 people per week will be returned when the programme starts. The deal is subject to sign off from European lawyers before it starts. Those who cross the Channel will be detained and have their details taken. There will be a way for people to claim for asylum in France, but cases will get reviewed. Nigel Farage condemned the deal, saying it was a ‘disaster’ for the UK. He said: ‘The problem has become Brexit’ and blamed the UK’s departure from the EU for the rise in the number of people crossing the Channel.
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.
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“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.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:43 Shadowing the people smugglers
Both leaders have described the Channel crossings as a mutual burden and crisis that must be tackled with co-operation.
Hailing their partnership, Sir Keir said that while there was “no silver bullet” to tackle the issue, the pair could “finally turn the tables” with “a united effort, new tactics and a new level of intent”.
He said the new deal would show people that attempting to cross the Channel in small boats would be “in vain”, adding: “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.”
Image: Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron host a meeting of the Coalition of the Willing on Ukraine. Pic: Reuters
Mr Macron also welcomed the deal reached with the UK, saying it was “a good agreement”.
Brexit creates crossing ‘incentive’
He suggested Brexit was to blame in the uptick in the number of crossings, arguing that the UK’s departure from the European Union meant there was no way for people to be returned to mainland Europe after people crossed the Channel.
He was referring to the Dublin regulation, which the UK was signatory to when it was a member of the EU, but is no longer.
“Many people in your country explained that Brexit would make it possible to fight more effectively against illegal immigration,” Mr Macron said.
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“But it’s in fact since Brexit [that] the UK has no migratory agreement with the EU.
“It creates an incentive to make the crossing, the precise opposite of what Brexit had promised.”
He added that the British people were “sold a lie…which is that the problem was Europe, but the problem has become Brexit”.
UK-France returns deal: What we know (and don’t) We’ve had no confirmation on how many people will be sent back to France, but Sky News understands that the government expects around 50 people per week will be returned when the programme starts. The deal is subject to sign off from European lawyers before it starts. In terms of the “how”, people who cross the Channel will be detained and have their details taken. Those picked for the pilot will be kept in detention, told their claim for asylum is inadmissible, and sent back to France. There will be a way for people to appeal this, but cases will get reviewed. When someone is sent back to France, a person with a legitimate asylum claim – who has not crossed by small boat before – will be sent the other way. The costs for the pilot will come from existing Home Office budgets. It’s not clear how long the pilot will last, but it will be kept under ongoing review.
His words sparked condemnation from Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who said he did not think “this so-called deal will make any difference at all” – citing the European Convention on Human Rights, which the UK is a signatory to.
Speaking to reporters from Westminster, he said: “If we even try to deport people across the Channel we will run straight into the European Convention on Human Rights as written into British law, in the human rights act. The lawyers will have a field day and will find lots of reasons why people can’t be deported.
“Nobody who crosses the English Channel illegally, in a boat, should ever be given refugee status, should ever be given leave to remain, and should be deported and if we did that, it would stop within a fortnight.”
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The French president also praised the prime minister for committing to reducing the “pull factors” that attract people to the UK from France – including the flexible labour market.
During a Q&A session, Sir Keir was asked whether the scheme would be effective given the large numbers of people who are making the dangerous journey across the Channel.
He responded by saying that if the pilot proved to be successful, “the numbers will ramp up”.
However, he refused to say how the pilot would select who might be returned to France, arguing it might “undermine” how the scheme would operate.
Starmer hails ‘groundbreaking’ deal to return small-boat migrants to France
Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron announce ‘one in, one out’ pilot scheme. British officials will detain some of those who cross the Channel and send them back to France. Scheme is uncertain in scale and timing, but is nevertheless the first time such an agreement has been struck between the two countries. Pilot is expected to begin in the coming weeks and will include a safe and controlled route “only open to those who have not tried to enter the UK illegally”, the prime minister said. Those in France who wish to travel to the UK will be allowed to apply via an online platform. If successful, they will be able to claim asylum in the UK. Starmer refused to say how people would be chosen for return to France, but those who are deemed to qualify will be told their claim is inadmissible in UK because they have arrived from a safe country. He also defended the concept of safe routes of asylum despite objections from populist right, saying: “We accept genuine asylum seekers because it is right that we offer a haven to those in need”
Starmer and Emmanuel Macron announced the plan on Thursday at the Northwood military base at the end of the French president’s three-day state visit.
Under the “one in, one out” pilot scheme, British officials will detain some of those who cross the Channel and send them back to France, in return taking an asylum seeker in France who can show they have family connections in Britain.
The scheme is uncertain in scale and timing, but is nevertheless the first time such an agreement has been struck between the two countries. It is also the first time the government has increased the number of safe routes through which asylum seekers are able to reach Britain.
Speaking in a joint press conference, Starmer said: “There is no silver bullet here, but with a united effort, new tactics and a new level of intent, we can finally turn the tables.
“For the very first time, migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France in short order.”
Macron also welcomed the scheme, while blaming Brexit on various occasions for the number of people crossing the Channel illegally.
“Many people explained that Brexit would make it more possible to fight effectively against illegal migration,” he said. “But since Brexit the UK has no illegal migration agreement with the EU … That creates an incentive to make the crossing, the precise opposite of what Brexit promised.
“The British people were sold a lie, which was that [migration] was a problem with Europe. With your government, we’re pragmatic, and for the first time in nine years we are providing a response.”
The pilot is expected to begin in the coming weeks and will include a safe and controlled route “only open to those who have not tried to enter the UK illegally”, the prime minister said.
Those who have crossed the Channel will have biometrics collected at Manston immigration centre, and those who have been identified as suitable to be part of the pilot agreement will be detained.
Starmer refused to say how people would be chosen for return to France, but those who are deemed to qualify will be told their claim is inadmissible in the UK because they have arrived from a safe country. People will have the ability to claim any exceptional circumstances that may mean that they are not suitable for return.
Those in France who wish to travel to the UK will be allowed to apply via an online platform and if successful will be allowed to claim asylum in the UK.
According to a report in Le Monde earlier this week, the pilot scheme would lead to the return of only 50 people a week, a fraction of the number who cross. Starmer did not deny that report, but declined to say how many people would be returned under the pilot.
Macron declined to say whether the scheme would expand as British officials have promised. He said: “I’m totally committed to make it work, because this is clearly our willingness and our common interest. And in this pilot project, I wanted to insist on one point – that there is a deterrent effect.
“What we want to do is precisely to have this deterrent effect so that all these smugglers … sense the message that we are efficient and they have no more interest to try.”
He added that he wanted to secure the agreement of other European countries before implementing the deal, with Spain, Italy, Greece, Malta and Cyprus all having expressed concerns.
Starmer said: “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.”
He also defended the concept of safe routes of asylum despite objections from the populist right. “We accept genuine asylum seekers because it is right that we offer a haven to those in most dire need,” he said.
“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.”
The two leaders also agreed to cooperate more closely on using their nuclear deterrent – something Macron called historic and that could involve the two countries using their weapons in tandem should Europe come under attack.
Macron also challenged Starmer to recognise the state of Palestine, something France has pushed the UK to do for months.
Both men were effusive in their praise of each other and the relationship they have forged during Starmer’s first year in power.
Macron also had some words of electoral advice for his fellow beleaguered centrist. “Never cede to the temptation of populism, which is the denial of science or a travesty of the facts,” he said.
“Populists sold you a response which is through nationalist withdrawal. Budgetary, immigration, growth problems from nine years ago. Were they solved by Brexit? No.”