Britain and France Edge Closer to Historic Migration Agreement as Starmer Courts Macron

In a significant diplomatic development, Sir Keir Starmer is poised to negotiate a groundbreaking ‘one in, one out’ migrant returns arrangement with French President Emmanuel Macron. The proposed deal, set to be the cornerstone of a renewed Anglo-French alliance, would establish a precedent-setting mechanism for managing cross-Channel migration.

The agreement’s central proposition enables British authorities to return small boat migrants to France whilst accepting asylum seekers with established UK family connections. The timing of this announcement has sparked concerns among Border Force officials, who warn that premature disclosure could trigger an surge in crossing attempts.

The existing £480 million arrangement between the two nations expires next year, amidst record-high migrant crossings totalling 21,017 thus far in 2025—marking a 50% increase from the previous year. Labour’s administration has witnessed over 44,000 arrivals since assuming power.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper’s extended negotiations with French counterpart Bruno Retailleau have focused on establishing a pilot programme to demonstrate the scheme’s viability. Government sources indicate that for meaningful impact, the initiative would need to facilitate the return of “considerably more than half” of all small boat arrivals.

The proposed framework includes a joint processing system to identify legitimate family reunification cases. Each migrant relocated to Britain would be matched by returning an unauthorised entrant to various French locations, deliberately distanced from coastal areas. Biometric tracking would ensure swift identification and return of repeat crossers.

Mediterranean EU members, including Italy, Spain, Greece, Malta and Cyprus, have expressed reservations about the bilateral agreement’s potential impact on their borders. Their primary concern centres on the possibility of becoming responsible for migrants returned from the UK to France under existing EU asylum regulations.