France’s small boats give up: PM to induce Macron to cease migrant taxis in French waters, amid studies plan has been shelved
Keir Starmer will today urge Emmanuel Macron to press ahead with plans to intercept migrants in French waters, amid reports they have been shelved.
The idea of tackling ‘taxi boats’ before they reach open water was hailed as a ‘game changer’ when it was unveiled by the two leaders at a summit in July.
And Downing Street insisted the plans remain on track, despite claims yesterday they had been shelved because of the political turmoil in Paris and opposition from French police unions.
The BBC reported French sources as saying an episode in July in which police slashed a migrant boat in the water was a one-off ‘political stunt’.
The Government’s border security commander Martin Hewitt told MPs this week that it was ‘frustrating’ that the new arrangements had not yet been put in place by the French.
Sources suggested the Prime Minister will seek reassurances from the French president when Mr Macron travels to London today for a summit on Ukraine.
France has been rocked by political turmoil for months, with the prime minister and interior minister who agreed the new tactics both replaced since the summer.
French police unions have also raised concerns that tackling small boats in the water could put officers’ lives at risk.
The idea of tackling ‘taxi boats’ before they reach open water was hailed as a ‘game changer’ when it was unveiled by the two leaders (pictured in March) at a summit in July
And Downing Street insisted the plans remain on track, despite claims yesterday they had been shelved because of the political turmoil in Paris and opposition from French police unions. Pictured: People thought to be migrants wade through the sea following an unsuccessful attempt to board a small boat in Gravelines, France, on October 9, 2025
It came as Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy said the detention of an Iranian man who returned to the UK on a dinghy after being deported last month under the Government’s one-in, one-out deal with France was a sign of ‘progress’.
And children’s minister Josh MacAlister told Times Radio: ‘The message is really clear from the Government – if you come here illegally and you cross, as we scale up this French returns agreement, you will be deported.
‘You will go back to France. The money you’ve spent will be wasted.
‘And if you do it again and again, you will be returned again and again.’
But critics have said the episode makes a mockery of Labour claims that the scheme is acting as a deterrent.
