Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has praised new French tactics to reduce Channel crossings, but avoided direct questions on a proposed 'one in, one out' migrant return scheme ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's state visit to the UK this week.
French police recently used knives to puncture a migrant boat in shallow waters near Boulogne, a departure from usual practice. A French legal review on intercepting boats already at sea has been completed, with further talks ongoing between French and British officials.
Cooper said working with France is 'vital to stop boats crossing in the first place', highlighting new French tactics to stop boats in the water. However, she did not confirm whether the UK would agree to accept asylum seekers from France in exchange for returning Channel arrivals.
The 'one in, one out' plan would see people reaching England by small boat sent back to France, with the UK accepting another asylum seeker with family ties or a clearer claim. UK officials say there are 'lots of moving parts' and want to 'get it right' before any announcement.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Cooper face pressure as over 20,000 people have crossed the Channel in the first half of this year, a 48% increase on the same period in 2024. Macron's visit includes a summit with Starmer on Thursday where new cooperative measures may be announced.
