Sir Keir Starmer announced a “groundbreaking” migrant returns deal in a joint press conference with Emmanuel Macron yesterday. The Prime Minister said he had agreed a “one in, one out” agreement with the French President. The deal would see illegal immigrants returned to France in exchange for asylum seekers that have a genuine connection to the UK.
Sir Keir said: “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.”
During the joint press conference, Mr Macron accused Brexiteers for misleading the British public, blaming the historic vote to leave the EU for the migrant crisis. The UK has seen 21,000 migrants cross the Channel this year, a new record.
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Rubbishing the plan, Tory Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “Labour’s deal will only return one in every 17 illegal immigrants arriving. Allowing 94% of illegal immigrants to stay will make no difference whatsoever and have no deterrent effect.
“This is the latest catastrophic example that when Labour negotiates, the UK loses.
“Starmer’s first move in power was to rip up the Illegal Migration Act, scrap the Rwanda deterrent plan, weaken age checks and reopen the path to citizenship for illegal migrants. This is a green light to people smugglers.
“Labour promised to ‘smash the gangs’, but 2025 so far has been the worst year in history for illegal immigrants crossing the channel and 44,000 illegal immigrants have crossed since the election. Returning 50 illegal immigrants a week only represents 6% of these arrivals”, he added.
“The Conservatives would restore the Rwanda plan which Starmer cancelled just days before it was due to start. This would see 100% of illegal immigrants being immediately removed without judicial process. The Australian example showed that a 100% removals deterrent works. We will do the same here.
“We’ve had enough of Starmer’s weak and ineffective gimmicks.”
Meanwhile, in a post on X, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also criticised the agreement.
He said: “This agreement is a humiliation for Brexit Britain. We have acted today as an EU member and bowed down to an arrogant French President.”