'What IS the point?!' Tom Harwood explodes over the French saying they will 'push back' empty smuggler boats

A deal between the UK and France was struck last July and was unveiled by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Its focus was intercepting so-called "taxi boats", used by people smugglers to cruise close to the coastline and collect passengers already standing in the water.

French police rarely intervene when they see overcrowded taxi-boats as it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.

Mark said on GB News: "We were told this would allow the French maritime police to push back the small boats.

"It’s not happened. And it doesn’t look like, if it does happen, the French are now saying they’ll only do it with empty boats.”

Tom Harwood fumed: “What’s the point in pushing? Sorry, well, what’s the point in pushing a boat back if that boat is empty? Who is that helping?”

Mark replied: “Well, the French say they’re doing it on safety grounds, because you don’t want to push a boat back that might capsize, even though it’s in, you know, knee-high water.”

Tom said: “It beggars belief.”

Mark White continued: “Listen, I share your frustration. It is just absolute and utter nonsense.

"You either do this pushback policy or just don’t bother. You know why?”

GB News's Dawn Neesom added: “And yeah, I mean, the frustration is palpable, obviously.

"But the serious side of this many of these are undocumented young men, and we know many of them go on to commit assaults on women.

"So the Government is saying we’re looking after women and girls. Meanwhile, we’ve got lots of young men coming across the Channel.

"We don’t know who they are. I’m not saying they’re all sexist thugs or anything, but many of them come from countries that literally sell women into slavery.”

The outburst comes after last weekend’s saw a surge of more than 750 people making the illegal crossing of the Channel, fuelling growing frustration over the Government’s handling of the crisis and critics accusing French authorities of hiding behind safety excuses.

This year's total has now exceeded 40,000, making 2025 as the second busiest year on record for small boat crossings.

The figures represent a significant challenge for the Labour Government, which has outlined multiple strategies to address the crisis since entering office.

Ministers have sought to overhaul its approach to the migrant crisis by imposing restrictions on benefits and cracking down on illegal working - an approach they hope will deter people considering heading to Britain.