France is said to be holding Britain "hostage" by stalling migrant deportations in an attempt to get more money under the recent "one in, one out" agreement.
A senior official in France is reportedly “dragging their feet and holding the deal hostage” demanding more cash before upholding their end of the bargain, according to The Sun.
The current three-year deal, which is worth around £476million, is being negotiated ahead of its expiry in March.
The deal was agreed just four months ago with French President Emmanuel Macron.
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The news comes as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the returns agreement.
Speaking on the scheme, a Home Office spokesman said: "For many years, illegal migrants entered our country with no consequence.
"These returns send a warning to those considering entering this country illegally: if you come here by small boat, you can be sent back.
"We are scaling up these removals to France and will do whatever it takes to secure our borders."
French President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer agreed the 'one in, one out' deal in July
|PA
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However, despite this, France continues to push back on the deal.
France’s human rights commission labelled the scheme “cynical and dehumanising”.
Additionally, the proposed plans to stop dinghies crossing the Channel at sea have been deemed too dangerous by French authorities and therefore stopped.
This had been promised at a previous summit.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer continues to face pressure under the scheme that still sees thousands crossing the border illegally
|PA
Meanwhile, some illegal migrants who had been deported under the agreement are said to have escaped their French asylum centre, vowing to return to Britain on a small boat.
Some of the foreign nationals complained about the lack of support offered across the Channel and are already vying for a route to return to British shores.
And just yesterday, Downing Street confirmed that the so-called "hokey-cokey" migrant still remains in the UK.
The Iranian national was deported back to France on September 19, but arrived back in Britain just 29 days later after paying for another spot on a migrant dinghy.
Returning on October 18, it means the man has now been back in the UK for 18 days without being deported. He has been held in an immigration removal centre.
Despite this, a Government source had told GB News some six days ago: "We expect his removal in the coming days. This return has to go through a process agreed with the French which is being expedited."