As talks between the leaders took place in London, migrants continued making the perilous journey across the Channel
President Emmanuel Macron has blamed Brexit for the small boat crisis in the English Channel as the UK and France unveiled a new migrant returns deal.
The one in, one out pilot scheme was described by Sir Keir Starmer as a “breakthrough” in his Government’s attempt to stop boat crossings.
He and his French counterpart dismissed any talk of “finger-pointing” and blame over the spiralling number of dangerous crossings being made, arguing they had a shared responsibility to tackle the challenge.
But standing next to Starmer as the two leaders announced the deal, Macron said voters had been “sold a lie” by British politicians about the impact leaving the EU would have on illegal migration.
His comments were labelled as “nonsense” by a former Brexit minister, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told The i Paper Macron was “arrogant”.
Macron said voters in the UK had been told the problem causing irregular migration was Europe, “but the problem has become Brexit”.
He added that the lack of agreement between the UK and EU had made the issue worse.
“Since Brexit – and I’m saying all this quite honestly – I know it’s not your case, Prime Minister, but many people in your country explained that Brexit would make it possible to fight more effectively against illegal immigration,” Macron said.
Migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, on the day the new deal was announced (Photo: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)
“But it’s in fact since Brexit the UK has no migratory agreement with the EU.”
Macron argued it actually had created an “incentive” for people to make the crossing: “The precise opposite of what Brexit had promised.”
Macron’s claims about Brexit are ‘nonsense’
Responding to the President’s claims, Farage – a long-time campaigner for Brexit – described Macron as “an arrogant French President who has subjugated Starmer”.
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg – the former Tory minister for Brexit opportunities – told The i Paper that Macron’s claims about Brexit making the small boats crisis worse were “nonsense”.
He added: “Under the Dublin Accord, we took in more people than we sent. Part of the problem now is that the French are cheating the British taxpayer, taking our money while being too frightened to get their feet wet.”
A Government source refused to comment on Macron’s claims, simply saying they would leave Macron to “talk to his own comments”.
What will the ‘historic’ pilot scheme involve?
Under the pilot scheme announced on Thursday, people arriving on a small boat will be detained in the UK and returned to France. They will also lose their right to apply for asylum in future.
In exchange, the British government will offer a safe route for asylum seekers in France – who have not attempted to cross the Channel – to come to the UK.
This will operate on a one in, one out system and will be scaled up after the initial launch of the pilot, the government said.
The scheme will work alongside ongoing efforts to prevent boats from leaving French shores.
The Government said further operational details about how the returns will be handled, and any additional cost, will be set out in due course.
But the UK has not agreed any new funding to be sent to France as part of this agreement.
Macron and Starmer during the press conference (Photo: Leon Neal/Getty Images)
No numerical target has been set for the number of people who will be exchanged, and they have not said there will be a specific limit, but it is understood the initial pilot will start with around 50 migrants per week being returned.
This is a small fraction of the numbers crossing, which have reached 21,117 so far this year.
Indeed as talks between the leaders took place in London, migrants continued making the perilous journey across the English Channel – with pictures showing people wearing life jackets arriving in Dover, Kent.
Border Force vessels were sent as part of the response to multiple boats on Thursday morning.
The PM argued that the purpose of the scheme is to provide a deterrent to dissuade people from trying to make the journey.
‘No silver bullet’ to tackle Channel crossings, Macron warns
Setting out the plan at the conclusion of Macron’s three-day state visit to the UK, he said: “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.”
Under the “groundbreaking” pilot scheme, “for the very first time, migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France in short order”, he said.
“In exchange for every return, a different individual will be allowed to come here via a safe route, controlled and legal, subject to strict security checks and only open to those who have not tried to enter the UK illegally.”
The scheme, which will begin within weeks, “will show others trying to make the same journey that it will be in vain”, he added.
He explained the UK would take someone in exchange for a returned small boat migrant because “it is right that we offer a haven to those in most dire need”.
Farage, who spent the day on a boat in the English Channel watching migrants making the crossing, 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.”
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: “Labour’s deal will only return one in every 17 illegal immigrants arriving.
“Allowing 94 per cent of illegal immigrants to stay will make no difference whatsoever and have no deterrent effect.”