Скачать или смотреть Starmer's Plan to Stop Migrants Crossing the Channel

Sir Keir Starmer said a deal to send small boats migrants back to France for the first time was a “breakthrough moment” which would “turn the tables” on people smugglers.

The Prime Minister and French President Emmanuel Macron – who said Brexit had made it harder to deal with illegal migration – hope the deal will have a deterrent effect beyond the limited numbers involved in the pilot scheme.

Under the one in, one out deal, for each small boat migrant sent back across the English Channel an asylum seeker will be allowed to enter the UK from France under a legal route.

No details have been given about how many people will be covered by the scheme, but reports from France have indicated it could initially be limited to around 50 a week – a small fraction of the weekly average this year of 782.

Sir Keir said: “There is no silver bullet here, but with a united effort, new tactics and a new level of intent, we can finally turn the tables.”

The pilot scheme would mean “for the very first time, migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France in short order”.

It will “show others trying to make the same journey that it will be in vain” and represents “a real breakthrough in the way that we tackle the vile trade of people smuggling”, Sir Keir said.

Under the plan, those in France could express an interest to apply for asylum to the UK through an online platform and would then carry out the standard visa application process and checks.

Priority will be given to people from countries where they are most likely to be granted asylum as genuine refugees, who are most likely to be exploited by smuggling gangs and also asylum seekers who have connections to the UK.

It is not clear what the criteria will be for deciding which small boat migrants will be sent back to France, but it is understood the pilot will start with adults.

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