The UK will soon begin returning some migrants arriving in small boats back to France under a new pilot agreement announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The deal, unveiled during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron, aims to curb illegal Channel crossings and disrupt human smuggling networks.
Dubbed the “one in, one out” scheme, the initiative will see a select number of migrants detained and returned to France. In exchange, the UK will accept an equivalent number of vetted asylum seekers who have not attempted to enter the UK illegally but have ties to the country, such as family connections.
Starmer described the initiative as a “practical and moral” response to the ongoing crisis, stating that “crossing the Channel in small boats will be in vain.” The pilot, which will be launched within weeks, could be expanded if successful. While the government has yet to disclose the exact numbers involved, the intention is to deter dangerous crossings and restore order to the asylum process.
Macron welcomed the plan, noting its potential “deterrent effect,” and suggested that Brexit had complicated Britain’s ability to manage illegal migration. He emphasized that cooperation between the UK and EU was essential in addressing shared security and migration challenges.
The agreement, pending legal scrutiny and EU consultation, includes measures beyond migration, such as closer coordination on nuclear deterrents, artificial intelligence, and anti-ship missile technology.
However, the plan has drawn criticism from opposition parties and right-wing figures. Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp argued the deal would return only one in every 17 illegal migrants and lacked meaningful deterrence. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage dismissed the pilot as ineffective and cited legal hurdles posed by the European Convention on Human Rights.
Sir Keir also defended the UK’s commitment to supporting genuine asylum seekers, saying, “We cannot solve this alone—we must work with our allies.” The announcement follows the scrapping of the previous government’s controversial Rwanda plan and comes amid a 48% rise in small boat arrivals compared to the first half of 2024
