Keir Starmer lashed out at the ‘performative politics of the easy hour’ as he unveiled the first migrant returns deal with Europe since Brexit – as Emmanuel Macron said Brits had been lied to
Keir Starmer has said a “groundbreaking” migrant returns agreement with France should be up and running within weeks.
The Prime Minister warned that the scheme, agreed after crunch talks with Emmanuel Macron in London, will “break the model” of people smuggling gangs. Under the plans, people who arrive by small boat will be sent back to France, while people with a legitimate claim to settle in the UK will arrive in exchange.
The breakthrough – which will start as a pilot scheme – comes after years of trying to secure a returns agreement with France to replace legal rights lost when Britain left the EU. Mr Starmer said the new scheme will “finally turn the tables” on the small boats crisis.
In a combative statement defending the plan, he lashed out at Nigel Farage, who spent today watching the dangerous vessels crossing the Channel crammed with men, women and children. During a press conference alongside Mr Macron, the PM criticised “performative politics of the easy answer” and added: “While we’ve been working hard on getting a returns agreement, others have been taking photos.”
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Meanwhile Mr Macron, who had a three-day state visit to the UK which ended today went on to blast Brexit “lies”. He said leaving the EU had worsened the migration crisis as it stripped Britain of access to an EU-wide returns agreement.
The French President said Brits had been “sold a lie” when they were told it would “make it possible to fight more effectively against illegal immigration”. In fact, he said: “It creates an incentive to make the crossing, the precise opposite of what Brexit had promised”.
But he said his country is “totally committed” to stopping the boats. Mr Macron said it was not in France’s interests to have people travelling to towns like Calais and setting up camps hoping to make the deadly journey, which claimed more than 70 lives in 2024.
The Government last night(THUR) refused to say how many migrants would be returned during the pilot scheme. According to reports in France, it will initially be capped at 50 a week – adding up to 2,600 a year.
Almost 20,000 people crossed the Channel in the first six months of the year. Mr Starmer said the threat of being sent back despite lining the pockets of traffickers would act as a deterrent.
He said: “For the very first time, migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France in short order.” Hitting out at those who want Britain to close its doors to asylum seekers, Mr Starmer said: “Now, I know some people will still ask why should we take anyone in?
“So let me address that directly. 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 here, 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.” And he continued: “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.”
He said those allowed to come to the UK as part of the scheme would be subject to strict security checks. Only those who had not tried to enter the UK illegally would be allowed in, he said.
Mr Starmer also said it is a “big step” that French authorities plans to intercept boats in shallow waters, stopping a legal loophole that makes it easier for traffickers to get vessels to sea.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, who hosted French counterpart Bruno Retailleau in Downing Street said: “This new pilot agreement with France is extremely important and allows us for the first time to return people who have paid to travel here illegally, and will sit alongside our wider joint enforcement action, including disrupting supply chains to seize boats and engines, shutting down social media accounts, and targeting finances.”
Mr Farage responded: “This agreement is a humiliation for Brexit Britain. We have acted today as an EU member and bowed down to an arrogant French president.”
And 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.”
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