KEIR Starmer and Emmanuel Macron are set to thrash out a deal in crunch talks today – just hours after a boat full of 70 migrants were seen waving as they entered British waters.
The leaders will hold a joint press conference after the Downing Street summit this afternoon as they race to finalise a “one in, one out” system to tackle the migrant crisis.
Shutterstock EditorialSir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanual Macron are holding crunch talks[/caption]
ReutersMigrants sit on an inflatable dinghy as it sails along the coastline near Gravelines, France, today[/caption]
ReutersThe group, seen wearing life jackets, have one leg hanging over the vessel’s ledge[/caption]
The pair were seen embracing outside Downing Street earlier, with Starmer vowing to tackle illegal immigration with “new tactics” and a “new level of intent”.
The French president said the UK and France “share the same will” insisting France will “engage all countries who share a responsibility alongside us”.
It comes after stark images highlighting the small boats crisis were captured this morning with individuals crammed into an inflatable dinghy as it crosses the Channel.
The group, seen wearing life jackets, have one leg hanging over the vessel’s ledge so more people can be packed in.
Sir Keir said the meeting was about working together on shared priorities.
He said: “For us, it’s about delivering the changes that the British people want to see, and we will agree the situation in the Channel cannot go on as it is.
“So we’re bringing new tactics into play and a new level of intent to tackle illegal migration and break the business model of the criminal gangs.”
Speaking in French, Mr Macron said: “We share the same will to tackle networks of illegal immigration through great co-ordination with other European countries.
“We have often mentioned France is the last destination before Great Britain for these men and women who often journey through paths of misery and are exploited by traffickers.
“We will work with countries of first entry in Europe (as) our intention is also to engage all countries who share a responsibility alongside us.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was on hand earlier today to watch a migrant dinghy carrying around 70 people being taken into British waters by the French authorities.
He saw first-hand as a Border Force boat waited for the migrants to arrive with them for a handover from France.
Mr Farage called the £750 million handed to France to deal with the crisis a “farce” and demands a refund.
He told GB News: “This is a classic day in the English Channel. Over the last five years, when the weather’s on a red day, you’ve got a migrant boat.
“And we’ve seen it through the binoculars, there’s about 70 people on board being escorted all the way over by the French Navy.
“And behind us we have Border Force sitting on a 12-mile line waiting for the handover. We’ve paid £800 million to the French, and this is the farce that goes on.”
“You’d need 10,000 troops on the beach to stop any of these boats taking off. And we’ve got to be honest about this, we can be upset with the French, but it’s our fault. It’s our fault.
“You might as well have a sign on the White Cliffs of Dover which says ‘everyone welcome’.
“No one gets deported, and I think we have to go further than we’ve ever gone before.”
Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron hold crunch talks at Number 10 to finalise a new “one in, one out” migrant pact.
The Prime Minister, ahead of the meeting, said he was pushing for a “new deterrent” following his decision to cancel the Rwanda deportation scheme.
Defence Secretary John Healey today said that the issue was a “shared challenge”.
He said: “The discussions are only taking place because over the last year, we’ve been able to establish with the French a recognition that this is a shared challenge, that they are working together with us, and that’s the reason that we’ve seen increased beach patrols, more drone patrols.”
Louis WoodA migrant flounders with several others caught in estuary mud[/caption]
Louis WoodPolice arrive around an hour after the dinghy crossing[/caption]
Louis WoodA migrant stuck in the mud clings to a rope as he’s hauled to safety[/caption]
He added: “As a Government, we’re not interested in blame.
“We’re interested in taking the action together that can help reduce the number of small boats coming across, the number of lives also being lost in the Channel…
“And we’re interested in re-establishing the control of our borders that the previous government lost in the recent years.”
Under the terms of the deal, around 50 migrants will be returned to France which amounts to just 2,600 annually.
This is in sheer contrast to the 44,000 who have arrived here since the last election as the Prime Minister said he will “smash the gangs”.
But Britain will want the number sent back to France to be ramped up after the initial trial period. The agreement will be announced later today after the fine detail has been ironed out.
The two countries have been haggling over the small print as they look to break the people smuggling gangs and their criminal operations.
The “one in, one out deal” would see the UK take some asylum seekers from France who have legitimate claims and also family in the UK.
ReutersThe inflatable boat floats near a large cargo ship[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
