COUNTRIES who refuse take back their illegal immigrants face visa crackdowns – as Sir Keir Starmer finally admits the Channel crisis is getting worse.
The Prime Minister is drawing up proposals to make “smarter use” of letting people into the UK if their home countries don’t take back failed asylum seekers.
PAA French cop stands on as migrants wait for a boat to come to Britain[/caption]
GettyMigrants pack on a boat to go across the Channel[/caption]
ReutersSir Keir Starmer was speaking at the G7 summit in Canada[/caption]
Britain already has returns agreements with around a dozen countries including Albania, India, Vietnam and Nigeria.
Discussions on the matter were a central part of the PM’s discussions with France, Germany and Italy while at the G7 summit in Canada as the small boats issue overshadows the government.
The PM said that he “made clear that we are looking at issues like a smarter use of our visas”.
He added: “So that looking at whether we should tie our visas to the work that the countries we’re dealing with are doing on preventative measures and on return agreements, and so we were very specific in what we were doing yesterday.”
“But you know, do we need to do more? Yes, we do, and it’s by working together that I think we can achieve that.”
He added: “We have done a number of bilateral returns agreements. So the question is, again, whether it is possible to go a bit beyond that.
“Including looking at this question of visas now and whether we can’t be a bit smarter with the use of our visas in relation to countries that don’t have a returns agreement with us.”
When asked if it would mean issuing fewer visas, he said: “Yeah, it would be much more sort of transactional, if you like. Now, we’re looking into it, but certainly I think there are areas like that that we should look more closely at.”
The push on visa restrictions comes as there was an acknowledgement by Downing Street during a meeting with France’s Emmanuel Macron that there was a “deteriorating situation” in the Channel.
Both sides are now looking at innovative solutions to try and solve the issue.
It’s understood to be the first time Number 10 has explicitly said the small boats crisis is getting worse rather than better.
Figures show that more than 16,000 migrants have made the perilous journey from France this year alone.
The PM declined to say after a year in power his policies had failed but said: “It is a serious challenge that requires serious responses to it. We are working much more closely already with our French counterparts.”
There is a UK-France summit in July where both sides have agreed to find “high-ambition”.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “This is an admission of failure, under Starmer’s watch, the Channel crisis is spiralling out of control.
The year 2025 is so far the worst on record with over 16,000 illegal crossings already this year – 42 per cent more than last year.
“And what’s Labour’s answer? To ask the British taxpayer to foot the bill for their accommodation or to pay half a billion pounds for the French to wave the boats off and do next to nothing to prevent Channel crossings.
“The gangs are laughing, the boats keep coming, and Labour’s response is to form another taskforce and hold a summit. It’s weak and it’s embarrassing.”
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