UK-France Pilot Migrant Swap Scheme in Early Talks

The UK and France are in early talks regarding a pilot migrant swap scheme, under which some irregular Channel arrivals would be sent back to France in exchange for the UK taking a limited number of legitimate asylum seekers from France, particularly for family reunification. The initiative, part of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s immigration strategy, aims to address rising small boat crossings and show a new approach as the government faces political pressure. Minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed ongoing negotiations, emphasizing that no final agreement has been made and details are still under discussion. The pilot would initially cover only a small number of migrants to test its impact. France prefers a broader EU-wide solution but is open to trialing this limited bilateral plan. Both nations stress the importance of targeting people-smuggling gangs and ensuring only those with legitimate claims remain in the UK.