Downing Street has insisted that the new migrant return agreement between Britain and France is “robust” and legally sound, despite the European Commission stating it will assess whether the plan aligns with both the “spirit and letter” of EU law. The pact, described as a “one in, one out” arrangement, is intended to see small boat migrants returned to France in exchange for the UK accepting legal asylum seekers with links to Britain. Officials have emphasised that France is a safe country and a signatory of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), and say the agreement complies with domestic and international obligations.
++ 17-year-old dies after sand hole collapses on him at beach
The proposal, reached following talks between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron, is still pending legal finalisation and formal EU consultation. While the UK expects Brussels to approve the deal, EU officials have reserved judgment, seeking more detail on its legal format and operational specifics. The pilot version is expected to cover only a limited number of individuals initially — potentially around 50 per week — far fewer than the average of 782 weekly Channel crossings recorded this year.
Accompanying the return plan is a wider crackdown on illegal working in Britain, which ministers say is key to tackling the “pull factors” encouraging dangerous Channel crossings. The Home Office has announced a major nationwide enforcement campaign targeting sectors such as delivery services, with companies including Deliveroo, Uber Eats, and Just Eat pledging to strengthen identity verification and fraud prevention measures. President Macron has also backed curbs on illegal work, warning of the impact mass migration has on French coastal regions like Calais and Dunkirk.
++ Israel targets british-owned vessel seized by houthis in retaliatory strikes
Despite mounting calls from figures such as Sir Tony Blair and former MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger for a digital ID system to deter illegal employment, Number 10 has ruled out the introduction of mandatory ID cards. Instead, the Government is focusing on expanding e-visa systems, with over ten million issued to date. Sir Keir has framed the crackdown as a turning point in migration policy, stating it will render promised UK jobs for illegal entrants effectively nonexistent. However, the Government now faces a complex balancing act — reassuring EU partners while proving to domestic audiences that migration controls are both fair and effective.
