Britain was today bracing for a ‘bumper’ summer of Channel crossings after Emmanuel Macron snubbed UK proposals for boats to be sent back to France.
Talks over a new migrant patrol deal were plunged into chaos after Shabana Mahmood pushed for Border Force vessels to be able to intercept boats carrying migrants in French waters and return them.
But Paris rebuffed the Home Secretary, saying the sovereignty of France’s territorial waters was a red line and that British boats cannot enter them.
Despite this, the Home Office today confirmed it was handing over another £16million of UK taxpayers’ money to the French authorities for anti-crossing measures to remain in place for another two months while talks continue.
Critics said it showed Labour’s plan for stopping the boats was ‘shambolic’ and ‘in a state of collapse’.
They also warned of a surge in crossings if France and the UK fail to agree new terms on funding French beach patrols.
It came as four people – two men and two women – died off the coast of northern France today after attempting to cross.
The French authorities said they ‘tried to board a water taxi’ and ‘the currents, which can be dangerous here, swept them away’.
Nearly 70,000 migrants have arrived since Labour won the 2024 general election, when Sir Keir Starmer pledged to stop the boats by ‘smashing the gangs
Migrants disembark from a Border Force vessel in Ramsgate port on February 25
Thirty-eight people were rescued, including two children, with the boat continuing its journey towards the UK with around 30 people on board.
It also emerged another 159 migrants crossed on Wednesday, bringing the total for this year to more than 5,000.
A further 137 crossed the day before as calmer and sunny weather created ideal conditions. Nearly 70,000 migrants have arrived since Labour won the 2024 general election, when Sir Keir Starmer pledged to stop the boats by ‘smashing the gangs‘.
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘Starmer’s whole policy is shambolic and in a state of collapse.
‘The idea that Labour has been targeting the people smuggling gangs – and that was the key to stopping the boats – is absolute hooey.
‘The collapse of their own ludicrous policy and the ending of the Rwanda deportation scheme have meant there’s no deterrent.
‘We’re heading for a bumper migrant crossings summer where we’ll see thousands upon thousands coming.
‘The only answer is creating a deterrent, which is, if you come over illegally we are going to send you away, either to your home country or to a place like Rwanda.’
Shabana Mahmood, who is known for taking a tough stance on migrants, wanted Border Force vessels to be able to intercept boats carrying migrants in French waters and return them
Former head of UK Border Force, Tony Smith, said he doesn’t believe French President Emmanuel Macron wants to stop boats from coming to the UK
France currently intercepts around 37 per cent of crossings – down from 50 per cent in 2023
The Tories’ shadow home secretary, Chris Philp, said: ‘Stopping the crossings requires more than disruption on the beaches.
‘It requires the swift removal of those who enter illegally so the incentive to make these dangerous journeys disappears.’
Former head of UK Border Force, Tony Smith, said a UK-France bilateral deal to enter each other’s waters for sending boats back was possible under international law but that Paris doesn’t want to stop the boats.
He said the same proposal had been made some years ago by former Tory home secretary Dame Priti Patel, adding: ‘I don’t think the French political position has changed – which is that they don’t really want us to send any asylum seekers back.
‘Without this political agreement, they’re going to keep coming. As things stand, without an agreement we could be in a worse position.’
Mr Macron’s snub was first reported by French satirical newspaper La Canard Enchaine.
Under the proposal, British vessels would have intercepted small boats before reaching UK waters, picked up the migrants on board and taken them back to northern France.
The operations would have mirrored what happens in British waters when migrant boats cross the territorial line about 12 miles into the Channel, with UK Border Force officers picking up migrants from often flimsy vessels to prevent fatalities or casualties.
But Paris rejected the demand because it would have meant British government boats entering French territorial waters.
It has previously been reported that a deal between Britain and France is being held up by Ms Mahmood’s insistence that payments to Paris should be dependent on results.
The Home Office wants to add ‘flexibility and innovation’ to a new agreement, which would see base funding for French beach patrols to be supplemented by payments based on how many attempted migrant crossings were blocked in northern France.
Under the terms of the previous deal, struck by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Britain paid nearly two-thirds of the £160 million yearly cost to patrol beaches.
Ms Mahmood has demanded new terms which would see funds only released after a target interception rate had been reached.
Paris is said to have agreed in principle with the model but has differences on the targeted rate of crossings prevented.
France currently intercepts around 37 per cent of crossings – down from 50 per cent from when the existing £475million deal was signed in 2023.
This expired last month but has been extended by another two months while talks continue.
A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘French law enforcement must use every tool at their disposal to prevent illegal small boat crossings.
‘We have been clear that French law enforcement and intelligence operations will continue while we finalise a new and improved UK-France deal.’