The UK is set to pay Libya to prevent migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea “at the source” and to send them back to their home countries as part of a new deal with the country.
The scheme, announced by illegal immigration minister Michael Tomlinson today, was being rolled out with the aim of clamping down on what he said were “record numbers of people headed towards our continent”.
Tomlinson was keen to stress the human cost of the small boat crisis in the Mediterranean – “we simply cannot afford to look away”, he said – and talked up the UK’s “leading role” in tackling numbers.
He said Libyan waters were “alluring but deadly” to migrants, and highlighted the “tragic” loss of life in the English Channel this week in his announcement in the Telegraph.
Michael Tomlinson said the UK must have a "leading role" in tackling the crisis in Europe and globally
PA/Reuters
Tomlinson said: “Illegal migration has a human cost. We simply cannot afford to look away.
“Now faced with the most complex and consequential of challenges, the United Kingdom is playing a leading role not just on the European front, but on the global stage.
“This is an international problem that requires an international solution.
“It is in this context that I have this week visited Libya, where I announced up to £1million to tackle illegal migration at the source.
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Tomlinson highlighted the "tragic" loss of life on small boat crossings in the Channel and Mediterranean, like this shipwreck in Italy
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“Libya is a crucial launch point for migrants, and the funding and support we are providing will ensure Libya is better equipped to stop people risking their lives to reach Europe.”
He said the seven-figure sum would also be used to support trafficking survivors and help migrants who want to return to their countries of origin.
The UK already runs a ‘voluntary return’ scheme, which offers financial assistance of up to £3,000 to help foreign nationals without permission to stay in the UK to go home, find accommodation or even start a business in their countries of origin.
Tomlinson said “almost 20,000” people signed up to this scheme last year – double the number in 2022.
He added: “We have already seen evidence that this works. Similar assistance provided to Tunisia allowed them to return thousands of migrants to their home countries last year.
“The timing for this has never been more critical. We are taking these steps as arrivals into Europe from north Africa are at an all-time high.”
This kind of ‘upstream’ agreement has already been agreed with a set of other countries, including Turkey, Pakistan, India and a collection of European states – all with the goal of tackling illegal migration closer to its source.
The illegal immigration minister said the Prime Minister and Home Secretary James Cleverly “have been unequivocal that we will confront this challenge head on”.
But he conceded that there was “more to be done”, and said: "The strain that illegal migration places on taxpayers and on our public services has real-life consequences for British people, and we know they rightly expect us to be relentless in tackling this.
“This isn’t just Libya or North Africa; it isn’t just Europe. It is a global challenge. And we are getting on with the job. We will do whatever it takes to secure our borders, reform our immigration system, and stop the boats.”