The United Kingdom will bear the costs of transporting asylum seekers to and from France under the new 'one in, one out' deal between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron, documents released by the government have revealed.
The agreement, which must be renewed by 11 June next year, can be terminated by either side at a month's notice. It allows the UK to return one person who entered the country irregularly in exchange for taking in someone from France whose asylum claim in the UK is deemed more likely to succeed.
Ministers have hailed the deal as a 'gamechanger', but Home Office sources indicated it will initially apply only to about 50 asylum seekers. The documents state that 'all transport costs incurred in connection with readmission pursuant to this agreement shall be borne by the United Kingdom'.
Those accepted for admittance from France will be provided with transport from a designated place to the UK at the UK's expense. However, individuals with outstanding asylum claims cannot be removed under the deal, and France can reject a requested removal if it considers the person a threat to public policy, internal security, public health, or the international relations of any Schengen state.
So far in 2025, 25,436 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in small boats – a record for this point in the year since data collection began in 2018. This marks a 48% increase on last year and a 70% rise compared to 2023. At least ten people have died attempting the journey this year, though there is no official record of Channel fatalities.
