Extra cash in new migrant deal with France NOT conditional on reducing small boat crossings

Alice Tomlinson
Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:12:22 +0000

Additional funds handed by the Government to France in its new migrant deal will not be conditional on reducing the number of small boat crossings.

A Government spokesman said today that the funding would not be conditional on France's performance in stopping the small boat crossings, despite the Home Office previously stating the money would be allocated based "on results and reducing illegal migration".

He said: "It is not fair to say that the extra money given to the French is conditional on numbers coming down.

"Part of a whole strategy is going to be based on how much effort French police are putting in. We will have to look across the piece."

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The spokesman previously said they will "work on the metrics" in order to track and measure success of the deal, with today the two nations have "agreed principle".

They also said that the "further £160million" was "based on success of new tactics".

However, in a press release from the Home Office announcing the further funding to France, they described the money as "conditional on results and reducing illegal migration".

The spokesman's comments have called into question how the Government is defining the "success" of the deal and what it means when it refers to "results".

As part of Shabana Mahmood's half a billion pound, 3-year deal with the French, beaches in northern France are set to be patrolled by over 1,000 law enforcement, intelligence and military officers as well as a greater investment in technology, "to bare down on small boat numbers".

The new deal, which the Home Secretary signed today with France's Interior minister, Laurent Nunez, boasts a "surge in law enforcement" and other agencies who will "track down illegal migrants".

It also includes a dedicated 50-strong riot unit trained specifically to contain and disperse migrants on beached and an expanded intelligence unit growing from 18 to 30 specialists, whose work last year led to the arrest of 480 people smugglers, the Home Office announced.

The money will also go to drone surveillance, two new helicopters and a new camera network, as well as an expansion of maritime operations targeting the small boats.

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The Government spokesman today did say that the metrics will be worked on.

However, questions are likely to be raised over whether agreeing a deal in principle without first establishing clear performance benchmarks could create complications further down the line.

Another agreement the UK currently has with France is the "one-in one-out" deal.

Official data today has revealed a total of 561 illegal small boat migrants have been sent back to France under the deal.

However, over 21,000 migrants have crossed the Channel since August 6, 2025, when it came into force.

France has sent 551 legal migrants to the UK so far.

Speaking to GB News, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp branded the deal "farcical".

He said: "Since the ‘one-in, one-out’ deal started, two per cent of those arriving have been removed. Allowing 98 per cent of the illegal immigrants to stay is obviously no deterrent at all."

As this particular deal with France comes under greater scrutiny from Westminster, concerns are likely to rise over the terms of the £662million deal the Home Secretary has just struck with the French Government.

On the new deal, Sir Keir Starmer said: "We must restore order and control to our borders. That means bearing down on these dangerous crossings and bringing people smugglers to justice.

"Our work with the French has already stopped tens of thousands of crossings, and this government has deported or returned nearly 60,000 people with no right to be here."

The Home Office says it has removed or deported nearly 60,000 illegal migrants and foreign criminals since Labour took office, a rise of 31 per cent.

Immigration enforcement activity targeting illegal working has also reached record levels, the Home Office said, with arrests up 83 per cent and raids increasing by 77 per cent.