{"id":71413,"date":"2025-07-11T01:10:46","date_gmt":"2025-07-11T01:10:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=71413"},"modified":"2025-07-11T01:10:46","modified_gmt":"2025-07-11T01:10:46","slug":"uk-to-return-some-migrants-to-france-within-weeks-pm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=71413","title":{"rendered":"UK to return some migrants to France within weeks \u2013 PM"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class='booster-block booster-read-block'>\n                <div class=\"twp-read-time\">\n                \t<i class=\"booster-icon twp-clock\"><\/i> <span>Read Time:<\/span>4 Minute, 44 Second                <\/div>\n\n            <\/div><div>\n<p>The UK will begin returning migrants arriving in small boats to France within weeks under a new pilot scheme, Sir Keir Starmer has said.<\/p>\n<p>Under the \u201cone in, one out\u201d deal, some arrivals would be returned to France and in exchange, the UK would accept an equivalent number of asylum seekers, subject to security checks.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron at the end of a three-day state visit, the prime minister said the plan would show that attempts to cross the Channel in small boats would \u201cbe in vain\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>It had been reported that the scheme would see up to 50 people a week being returned, but Sir Keir did not confirm any figures<\/p>\n<p>He said the \u201cground-breaking\u201d plan would help \u201cbreak the model\u201d of the people smugglers, and would be ramped up if it was successful.<\/p>\n<p>Illegal migration was, he said, \u201ca global crisis, an EU crisis and a crisis for our two nations\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Since 2018, when figures began to be gathered, more than 170,000 people have arrived in the UK in small boats. Numbers this year have reached record levels with nearly 20,000 arriving in the first six months of 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Macron said the scheme would have a \u201cdeterrent effect\u201d beyond the numbers returned.<\/p>\n<p>He added that Brexit had made it harder for the UK to tackle illegal migration, arguing that the British people were \u201csold a lie\u2026 which is that the problem was Europe\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>During the press conference, the two leaders also announced that their countries would:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>co-ordinate their nuclear deterrents<strong>,\u00a0<\/strong>meaning they would jointly mobilise their weapons in the event of an attack<\/li>\n<li>strengthen collaboration on supercomputers and AI<\/li>\n<li>\u201cspeed up and accelerate\u201d co-operation on anti-ship missiles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Some details of the small boats deal, including how the UK would decide who to send back to France, remain unclear, although it is understood the pilot will start with adults.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\"src=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-2048x1152-1.png\" alt=\"UK to return some migrants to France within weeks - PM\" class=\"wp-image-10032799464\" title=\"UK to return some migrants to France within weeks - PM\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-1536x864.png 1536w, https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-2048x1152-1.png 2048w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-534x300.png 534w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-233x131.png 233w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-150x84.png 150w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-218x123.png 218w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-754x424.png 754w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-330x186.png 330w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-225x127.png 225w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-217x122.png 217w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-340x191.png 340w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-267x150.png 267w, https:\/\/www.myjoyonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/image-836-55x31.png 55w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><\/figure>\n<p>Those living in France but wanting to come to the UK would be able to express interest in applying for asylum via an online platform.<\/p>\n<p>Priority would be given to those from countries most prone to people smugglers, as well as to people with links to the UK.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/news\/uk-france-leaders-declaration?utm_medium=email&#038;utm_campaign=govuk-notifications-topic&#038;utm_source=966ba37b-8124-4421-a6a5-5c30aec50e86&#038;utm_content=immediately\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">In a statement<\/a>\u00a0released after the press conference, the government said the agreement would be signed \u201csubject to completing prior legal scrutiny in full transparency and understanding with the [European] Commission and EU Member states\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Other EU countries \u2013 such as Spain and Italy \u2013 may have concerns that returned migrants could then be sent to them. Under EU rules, individuals sent back to France would have to claim asylum in the first European country they arrived in, often places bordering the Mediterranean Sea.<\/p>\n<p>Sir Keir said there was \u201cno silver bullet here, but with a united effort, new tactics and a new level of intent, we can finally turn the tables\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to the returns pilot, he also promised \u201ca crackdown\u201d on illegal working, which would ensure the jobs promised by traffickers to migrants \u201cwould no longer exist\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>The government has said it has plans to bear down on illegal working hot spots, such as deliver riders.<\/p>\n<p>Macron said the two countries would \u201cintensify joint action\u201d in the countries of origin and transit.<\/p>\n<p>Announcing the pilot, Sir Keir said: \u201cI know some people will still ask, why should we take anyone in \u2013 so let me address that directly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe accept genuine asylum seekers because it is right that we offer a haven to those in most dire need.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut 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\u2019t play ball.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the deal would \u201conly return one in every 17 illegal immigrants arriving\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAllowing 94% of illegal immigrants to stay will make no difference whatsoever and have no deterrent effect.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the crossings were \u201ca national security emergency\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrankly the French owe us our money back,\u201d he added, in a reference\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.co.uk\/news\/uk-politics-64916446\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">to payments made by the UK<\/a>\u00a0to support French policing efforts.<\/p>\n<p>He said he did not believe the pilot would work, saying: \u201cIf we even try to deport people across the Channel, we will run straight into the European Convention on Human Rights.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>John Vine, a former chief inspector of immigration and borders, told the BBC\u2019s Newsnight programme that establishing the principle that France should take back some illegal migrants was \u201ca first\u201d and \u201can achievement in itself\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>However, he said the plan would not reduce crossings unless the numbers being returned were \u201cconsiderable\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>Imran Hussain from the Refugee Council said it was \u201cright\u201d for the government to look at ways of targeting the smugglers\u2019 business model and the proposal would also provide \u201ca mechanism potentially where families have a safe and legal route to come to the UK from France\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>However, the charity Asylum Matters said: \u201cWe don\u2019t need another expensive, ineffective, dangerous Rwanda-style gimmick.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s incredibly simple: the only way to stop people from making dangerous journeys is to give them real safe routes to seek sanctuary.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Labour and the previous Conservative governments have both struggled to stem the numbers coming to the UK in small boats.<\/p>\n<p>The Conservatives had proposed sending arrivals to Rwanda, but the scheme was delayed by legal challenges. The general election was called before it could be implemented.<\/p>\n<p>One of Sir Keir\u2019s first acts as prime minister was to scrap the plan, calling it a gimmick.<\/p>\n<p>He said his government would focus instead on tackling the smuggling gangs that organise the crossings.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n        <div class=\"booster-block booster-reactions-block\">\n            <div class=\"twp-reactions-icons\">\n                \n                <div class=\"twp-reacts-wrap\">\n                    <a react-data=\"be-react-1\" post-id=\"71413\" class=\"be-face-icons un-reacted\" href=\"javascript:void(0)\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/wp-content\/plugins\/booster-extension\/\/assets\/icon\/happy.svg\" alt=\"Happy\">\n                    <\/a>\n                    <div class=\"twp-reaction-title\">\n                        Happy                    <\/div>\n                    <div class=\"twp-count-percent\">\n                                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migrants to France within weeks - PM\">The UK will begin returning migrants arriving in small boats to France within weeks under a new pilot scheme, Sir Keir Starmer has said.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-71413","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71413","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=71413"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/71413\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=71413"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=71413"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=71413"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}