Starmer Seeks ‘One In, One Out’ Migrant Deal with Macron
Prime Minister Keir Starmer will travel to Paris this week seeking to strike a new migrant deal with French President Emmanuel Macron, aimed at returning asylum seekers who cross the Channel in small boats.
The proposal, understood to be a “one in, one out” pilot scheme, would see the UK return some migrants to France in exchange for taking in others with family ties to Britain. It forms part of a wider attempt by the Labour government to rebuild diplomatic relations with France following the collapse of the controversial Rwanda deportation policy.
Speaking to reporters, Downing Street said the Prime Minister would focus on creating a “fair and effective” system of returns, alongside cooperation on biometric tracking and the establishment of a joint UK–France processing centre.
However, critics have raised concerns about the effectiveness of the plan. Former Border Force officials warned it could act as an incentive for migrants to cross the Channel in hopes of being included in the pilot. Civil liberties groups also expressed alarm over the potential use of biometric data, including facial recognition, in tracking migrants.
Labour sources insist the deal is still in early stages and dependent on French cooperation. President Macron is expected to raise concerns of his own, particularly over the operational and political complexity of accepting returns from the UK post-Brexit.
The meeting is Starmer’s first major diplomatic test since assuming office, and it comes as Channel crossings show signs of increasing once more after a brief dip in June.
