UK to Return Some Migrants to France Within Weeks, PM Starmer Announces
The United Kingdom will begin returning migrants who arrive in small boats across the English Channel back to France within weeks, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced. The move comes as part of a new bilateral pilot scheme aimed at curbing illegal migration and dismantling the networks of human smugglers.
Speaking at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, Starmer described the initiative as a strategic shift to render cross-Channel boat journeys “in vain.”
The pilot, dubbed a “one in, one out” deal, will see the UK detain and return some irregular arrivals to France while accepting an equivalent number of vetted asylum seekers with verified links to the UK, such as family connections. However, the exact number of migrants to be returned or accepted under the pilot remains undisclosed.
“This plan is about breaking the business model of the people smugglers,” said Starmer. “It’s a practical and humane approach, one that shows we will not stand by while criminal gangs exploit vulnerable people.”
President Macron welcomed the initiative, calling it a significant deterrent that would ripple beyond the limited number of individuals involved. He also took aim at Brexit, claiming that Britain had been misled into believing leaving the EU would ease migration challenges. “The British were sold a lie… the problem was never just Europe,” Macron said.
While the two leaders portrayed the pilot as a breakthrough in UK-France relations, critics quickly raised concerns. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticised the policy as weak, saying it would return only one in every 17 illegal immigrants. “Allowing 94% to remain in the UK will have no deterrent effect,” Philp argued.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was more scathing, describing the migrant crisis as “a national security emergency.” He dismissed the pilot’s viability, warning that the European Convention on Human Rights could block any deportations. “Frankly, the French owe us our money back,” Farage added, referring to prior UK payments to France for border policing.
The Starmer-Macron meeting also produced agreements on other fronts. The two nations committed to closer coordination of their nuclear deterrents, deeper collaboration on supercomputing and AI, and accelerated development of anti-ship missile systems.
Despite the apparent diplomatic alignment, the migrant return plan still faces practical and legal hurdles. Details remain vague on how the UK will select which migrants to detain and how asylum claims will be processed. EU countries like Spain and Italy may also object, fearing a ripple effect where returned migrants could be redirected to them.
The pilot scheme replaces the controversial Rwanda deportation plan, which was shelved by Starmer shortly after taking office. The former Conservative-led plan had faced intense legal pushback and never fully launched.
Meanwhile, migration into the UK continues to rise. In the first half of 2025 alone, nearly 20,000 people crossed the Channel—up 48% from the same period in 2024. Since 2018, more than 170,000 people have arrived in small boats.
Sir Keir defended his policy shift, stating: “We accept genuine asylum seekers because it is right to offer refuge to those most in need. But no country can solve illegal migration alone. We must work with our allies.”
As the UK prepares to implement this plan, the world watches closely to see if this diplomatic approach can succeed where previous enforcement-heavy strategies have failed.
In other news:Govt to Relax Import Rules to Boost Manufacturing Sector
UK to Return Some Migrants to France Within Weeks, PM Starmer Announces