UK, France Near One-In, One-Out Migrant Deal

The UK government, led by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, is negotiating a "one-in, one-out" migrant deal with France aimed at addressing the surge in Channel small boat crossings. Under this proposed pilot scheme, a certain percentage of migrants arriving in the UK would be returned to France, while the UK would accept the same number of asylum seekers from France, particularly those with family connections in Britain. This deal marks a shift in France's stance, as French officials have agreed to intercept migrant boats at sea for the first time, despite previous legal concerns. However, the plan faces criticism from the opposition, with Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp labeling it a "gimmick" that fails to tackle the core enforcement issues, accusing the government of surrendering the immigration system by scrapping effective return deterrents. Starmer has acknowledged the deteriorating situation and threatened visa crackdowns on countries failing to manage migration, while internal negotiations reportedly focus on the proportion of migrants to be exchanged, with Labour aiming for at least 40%. The deal is anticipated to be announced soon, potentially coinciding with Starmer's leadership anniversary, as a strategy to reduce the viability of dangerous Channel crossings amid rising migrant arrivals.