Taxpayers Foot £48,800 Bill for Each Migrant Returned to France Under Labour Deal
Taxpayers are now paying a staggering £48,800 for every migrant sent back to France under Labour's controversial one-in-one-out agreement, which critics have labelled as "failing." This sharp increase represents a dramatic rise from approximately £15,000 per removal a decade ago, according to a detailed analysis by the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford.
Soaring Costs and Operational Details
The analysis estimates that a single flight from Stansted to Paris on January 20, which carried 32 male migrants alongside 73 escorts and two paramedics, could have cost as much as £1.52 million. This total encompasses air fares, extensive case work, and financial support provided to migrants after they leave the UK. Under the terms of the deal signed in July, Britain can return a small boat migrant to France in exchange for accepting one who has not previously attempted to arrive illegally.
Since the deal was struck, 498 people have been returned to France, while 482 have come to the UK, with UK taxpayers covering transportation costs in both directions. A recent HM Inspectorate of Prisons report noted that the men on the January flight had all been detained after arriving in the UK on small boats and were held in immigration detention centres prior to removal.
Security Measures and Political Criticism
On the flight, two staff escorted each migrant, a precaution taken after three passengers on a previous flight had to be restrained using waist belts due to "continuing resistance." Fortunately, the January flight proceeded successfully without the need for force. However, Labour has faced significant criticism for the slow pace of deportations and the escalating costs involved.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp condemned the scheme, stating, "The one-in one-out scheme is a failure. No wonder more illegal immigrants have crossed the Channel under Keir Starmer than any other prime minister." In response, a Home Office spokesman defended the measures, saying, "Illegal migrants and foreign criminals are given escorts where risk assessments show they are needed. Since the 2024 election, the Government has saved close to £1 billion in asylum costs and returned or deported nearly 60,000 people."
Channel Crossings and French Police Inaction
More than 5,136 people have arrived in the UK on small boats so far this year, which is about a third lower than the 8,064 recorded during the same period in 2025. Tragically, two men and two women died recently while attempting to climb onto a boat near Boulogne-sur-Mer, with two children among those hospitalized as a precaution and another person treated for hypothermia. A Sudanese man has been arrested on suspicion of endangering life in connection with the incident.
New photos have once again highlighted French police failing to intervene as dozens of migrants scrambled onto dinghies bound for Britain. Despite being equipped with specialist uniforms, riot helmets, waterproof body-worn cameras, non-lethal handguns, and pistol-grip pepper spray, gendarmerie officers stood by and watched overloaded boats sail over the horizon. This inaction followed a January order from France's human rights watchdog, Claire Hédon, the Defender of Rights, who deemed aggressive tactics like slashing boats or using tear gas as "disproportionate" and risky.
Recent Developments and Policy Responses
On Monday, around 200 migrants were observed wading into the sea before being collected by small boats sent from further down the coast, a method known as the "taxi boat" tactic. French police have agreed to tackle such operations after a personal plea from Prime Minister Keir Starmer in January, but they will only attempt interceptions before migrants are taken onboard. Police unions have warned that this approach could endanger the lives of people-smugglers, migrants, and French officers, potentially leading to prosecution if injuries or drownings occur.
Two weeks ago, the UK agreed to a new two-month deal, paying France an additional £16.2 million to police the Channel while both countries negotiate a long-term agreement. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed off on this extension to subsidise French beach patrols. Meanwhile, officials report that more migrants without identification are falsely claiming to be fleeing the war in Iran or identifying as Bidoons—stateless Arabs from Kuwait—to secure refugee status, complicating asylum processes further.
