Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron shaking hands at a press conference.
Share this @internewscast.com

FRANCE will have the option to select which migrants to accept under the one-in, one-out agreement, raising concerns that the UK may end up with individuals who have concerning backgrounds.

France will receive information about each migrant eligible for return, allowing them to decline those with criminal histories or viewed as security threats.

Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron shaking hands at a press conference.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel MacronCredit: Shutterstock Editorial
Migrants in a small boat crossing the English Channel.
The Starmers and the Macrons outside No10Credit: The Mega Agency
Migrants arriving in Dover on an RNLI lifeboat.
A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, KentCredit: PA

Both France and the UK will have a veto over which of the small boat migrants they take in.

Britain will take into account if the migrants have a connection to the country and if they have lived here before.

Lucy Moreton from the Immigration Service Union, one of two unions that represent Border Force staff, slammed the plan.

She mentioned to The Times: “If we come across someone identifiable from our database as a known offender, why would France take them back? They remain our issue.”

While saying it is a “good start” to tackling the small boats crisis, she warned that migrants will likely become more sneaky in their methods.


Revealed in the Plan:

  • Migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France in short order
  • A one-in, one-out system will operate with migrants sent back to France in exchange for asylum seekers
  • The plan is merely a pilot scheme – which could be canned if it doesn’t work
  • Only 50 a week will be sent packing – a fraction of the thousands crossing into the UK

There may be an uptick in migrants stowing away in cars and lorries, or taking more dangerous routes into the country.

Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron confirmed a one-in-one-out deal will return small boat migrants to France – but only 50 a week will be sent packing.

The PM hailed the “groundbreaking” returns’ scheme as “aggressive” – but admitted it was merely a pilot plan that would deal with just a fraction of the migrants trying to cross the Channel every day.

Furious Farage blasts ‘It’s a national EMERGENCY’ as Starmer reveals ‘ridiculous’ migrant deal

In a joint press conference with the French President, Sir Keir confirmed that in exchange for sending unlawful migrants back, the UK will accept asylum seekers from Calais who have “legitimate claims” and family in Britain.

Only those who haven’t tried to enter the country illegally before will be eligible for the scheme, which will come into force “in weeks”.

The PM hailed the plan as “hard-headed, aggressive action” and boasted that “previous governments tried and failed to secure results like this”.

But the agreement is the equivalent of just 2,600 returns annually (50 a week), compared with the 44,000 who have arrived since Labour took power a year ago.

And this year alone more than 21,117 migrants have crossed the Channel – a 56 per cent rise on the same period in 2024.

The announcement was also made on the same day as hundreds more migrants crossed the Channel – with photos showing them waving from packed boats.

And at the same time as The Sun’s political correspondent watched in horror with Nigel Farage as the French handed 78 migrants to UK Border Force.

At the Northwood Military Headquarters in Hertfordshire Sir Keir and Mr Macron insisted the deal would help break the business model of the smuggling gangs, with migrants unwilling to pay thousands for a crossing if they could be sent straight back.

Keir Starmer speaking.
Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron announce migrant returns deal at the Northwood Military HQCredit: Dan Charity
Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron at a press conference.
Keir Starmer and Macron hold a press conference on July 10 to announce the dealCredit: Getty

But Sir Keir admitted the new deal won’t necessarily end the crisis, saying: “There is no silver bullet here”.

And it was revealed the plan could descend into a legal wrangle – with “returned” migrants able to launch lengthy battles through the courts.

It means the system could get bogged down with ongoing legal cases – and the whole plan thwarted in the same way that Rwanda flights were grounded by lefty lawyers.

Responding to the deal, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp blasted: “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.

“This is the latest catastrophic example that when Labour negotiates, the UK loses.

“Starmer’s first move in power was to rip up the Illegal Migration Act, scrap the Rwanda deterrent plan, weaken age checks and reopen the path to citizenship for illegal migrants. This is a green light to people smugglers.

“We’ve had enough of Starmer’s weak and ineffective gimmicks.”

Under the “returns pilot”, for the very first time, small boat migrants will be “detained and returned to France in short order”.

The selected migrants – all adults – will be handed notices informing them that they are due to be sent back to France.

Money for the returns will come from existing Home Office budgets.

In exchange for every return, a different asylum seeker will be allowed into Britain through a “safe route, controlled and legal, subject to strict security checks”.

Sir Keir said: “This will show others trying to make the same journey that it will be in vain and the jobs they’ve been promised in the UK will no longer exist because of the nationwide crackdown we’re delivering on illegal working, which is on a completely unprecedented scale.”

Addressing the press conference, Mr Macron couldn’t help a dig at Brexit, blaming the divorce from Europe, rather than lazy French cops, for the surge in channel crossings.

Despite Britain having paid £770 million to border patrol officers in Calais, the French President whinged: “We must above all adapt the response to Brexit.

“It’s that we sold a lie to the British people which is the problem with Europe… The problems become Brexit with your government and for the first time in nine years we’re providing a response.”

The announcement of the deal concluded a three-day State Visit to the UK by Mr Macron, who also dined with King Charles and members of the royal family.

Migrants in a small boat off the coast of Gravelines, France.
Police disperse a group of migrants trying to board a dinghy at Gravelines beach to cross the English Channel and reach the UKCredit: LNP
Migrants arriving in Dover on an RNLI lifeboat.
A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dover, Kent, onboard an RNLI Lifeboat on July 10 – the day the migrant deal was announcedCredit: PA
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
People boarding a small airplane.

How Carolina Wilga Survived 13 Days in the Cold Australian Outback After Going Missing

AFTER spending 11 freezing nights out in the wild, it was a…
Russia gives Rubio a 'new and different approach' as Trump pushes for peace with Ukraine

Russia Presents Rubio with Fresh Perspective amid Trump’s Ukraine Peace Efforts

Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed on Thursday that he and his…
Live Aid 40th anniversary: Judas Priest, Rick Springfield, John Oates and Bob Geldof reflect on concerts from Philadelphia, London

Celebrating 40 Years of Live Aid: Judas Priest, Rick Springfield, John Oates, and Bob Geldof Share Their Memories of the Philadelphia and London Concerts

NEW YORK — Forty years ago, the iconic Live Aid concerts set…
Valley woman returns home months after fiery I-10 crash rescue

Local woman safely returns home months following dramatic I-10 crash recovery

Asharie Cheatham suffered burns to nearly a third of her body when…
Former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White hosts 11th annual 'Off to College Trunk Party' for Chicago high school graduates

Ex-Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White Celebrates 11th ‘Off to College Trunk Party’ for Chicago Graduates

CHICAGO (WLS) — Former Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White hosted his…
Pam Bondi Pfizer Conflict: Ties to Big Pharma

Pam Bondi and Pfizer: Potential Connections to the Pharmaceutical Industry

Pam Bondi, Donald Trump’s pick for Attorney General, has been revealed to…
Here’s how much money New Yorkers need to retire comfortably: new study

New Study Reveals the Retirement Savings New Yorkers Need for Comfort

Research indicates that retirees in New York require an average of $50,997…
Vladimir Putin speaking at a press conference.

West Must Overcome All Members of ‘Axis of Evil’ to Stop Putin’s Tyranny, Warns Former Top U.S. General

WESTERN nations must change their attitude to Russia and crush the war…
Taiwan conducts live-fire drills with US-made tanks as president looks on

Taiwan Holds Live-Fire Exercises with US Tanks Under President’s Watchful Eye

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te presided over the island’s military conducting live-fire drills…
‘River of Angels’ memorial rises in Kerrville as flood victims remembered

“‘River of Angels’ Memorial Erected in Kerrville to Honor Flood Victims”

KERR COUNTY, TEXAS – Over the past 72 hours, an expanding tribute…
AOC Could Soon Pay a Big Price As She Makes Same Defamatory Allegation Against Trump That Cost ABC $15M

AOC Potentially Faces Consequences for Repeating Defamatory Claim Against Trump Similar to Costly ABC Case

The mishap resulted in his network incurring a $15 million loss, as…
Missing teen surfer found alive on remote island miles from shore: 'Didn't give up hope'

Teen Surfer Rescued Alive on Remote Island After Being Missing: ‘Never Lost Hope’

A surfer who disappeared after heading into the ocean on Wednesday afternoon…