The UK government is poised to pay France hundreds of millions of pounds in a controversial new agreement aimed at accelerating the deportation of asylum seekers who arrive via small boat crossings across the English Channel.
According to a leaked government document obtained by The Independent, the proposed deal would see British taxpayers fund a new detention centre on the French coast. The facility would be used to hold migrants intercepted by French authorities before they can attempt the perilous journey to the UK.
A Costly Admission of Failure
Negotiations for the scheme, which could cost British taxpayers up to £480 million over three years, are reportedly at an advanced stage. The plan has been met with fierce criticism from opposition parties and human rights groups, who argue it is a costly and impractical measure that fails to address the root causes of the crisis.
Yvette Cooper, Labour's Shadow Home Secretary, slammed the proposal as a "admission of failure" on the part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government. She highlighted that the number of Channel crossings has hit a record high under the current administration, despite repeated promises to 'stop the boats'.
How the Deportation Scheme Would Work
The core mechanism of the plan involves a significant increase in French maritime patrols. The objective is to intercept more boats before they leave French territorial waters.
Migrants apprehended by French authorities would then be taken to the new, UK-funded detention centre. From there, the agreement would streamline the process for their rapid return to their country of origin, bypassing the UK's asylum system entirely.
Mounting Political Pressure
This proposed deal emerges amidst intense political pressure on the Prime Minister. With the number of small boat arrivals continuing to rise, the government's flagship Rwanda deportation plan stalled in the courts, and the next general election looming, Mr. Sunak is under fire to show progress on his key pledge.
Critics argue that the new scheme is merely a rehash of previous agreements that have yielded limited results. They point to the £500 million already given to France since 2018, which has failed to prevent a significant increase in crossings.
The Home Office has declined to comment on the leaked document but maintains its commitment to working with international partners to tackle illegal migration. The final terms of the agreement are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
