French President Emmanuel Macron is demanding Sir Keir Starmer makes it less appealing for Channel crossing migrants to make the perilous 21-mile journey to the UK, an Elysee Palace source has claimed.
Macron, who yesterday vowed to work with Britain to curb Channel crossings, hopes the Prime Minister will agree to a three-part ultimatum to alleviate the pressures facing both Dover and Calais.
The French President is said to be putting pressure on Starmer to clampdown on illegal migrants exploiting the UK’s black market for labour and welfare payments.
He also wants Britain to make family reunification for genuine asylum seekers easier as conditions for the deal.
“These causes must also be addressed by the British,” an Elysee source told The Telegraph.
Speaking in the Palace of Westminster, Macron addressed the issue of migration and vowed to spearhead an Anglo-French response to deal with the “clear issue” of the crisis.
The French President, who also said Brexit is “deeply regrettable”, said: “France and the United Kingdom have a shared responsibility to address irregular migration with humanity, solidarity and fairness.”
Addressing MPs and peers, Macron promised France will finally adopt a "firm" approach to the small boats crisis.
French President Emmanuel Macron speaking in the Palace of Westminster
PA
However, speculation about a "one in, one out deal" sparked fears of a fresh surge of migrant arrivals.
Lucy Moreton, from the Immigration Service Union, said: "Whenever there is a new policy, we have seen it time and time again, people smugglers try to push migrants across saying 'Go now before it is too late'."
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp also labelled the proposal a "migrant merry-go-round", adding that deportation is the only effective deterrent.
He said: "Anything less that 100 per cent of arrivals getting send straight back won't work."
Channel crossings continue from Dunkirk to Dover
REUTERS
A cross-Channel "one in, one out" deal also faces pressure from several EU member states.
Italy, Greece and Spain are among a number of nations in the bloc who fear the proposal could see an influx of migrants in the Mediterranean under the EU's Dublin Convention.
Despite suggestions that France needs the UK to crackdown on its black market, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last week announced efforts to stop asylum seekers from working illegally.
However, discussions about a potential cross-Channel deal come just days after GB News revealed that the Prime Minister has overseen 44,000 Channel crossing migrants arriving on British shores in his first year in No10.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer (3L) and his wife Victoria Starmer, alongside France's President Emmanuel Macron (2L) and his wife Brigitte Macron (L) attend a ceremony at the statue of war-time Prime Minister Winston Churchill
GETTY
The figure was 40 per cent higher than the 31,000 who made the same journey in Rishi Sunak’s last year as Prime Minister.
Migration is not the only issue on the table, with Macron and Starmer also expected to discuss defence and trade later today.
During yesterday's speech in the Palace of Westminster, the French President also made a few quips about his good relationship with the Royal Family.
In a joke about the French Revolution of 1789, Macron said: "I have to confess that we love monarchy, especially when it's not at home."
King Charles mentioned 'irregular migration' between UK and France in new speech.PADuring last night's State Banquet at Windsor Castle, King Charles also weighed in on the issue of illegal migration.
The monarch said: “Our security services and police will go further still to protect us against the profound challenges of terrorism, organised crime, cyber attacks and of course irregular migration across the English Channel.
“And our businesses will innovate together, generating growth, trade and investment for our economies and across the world.”
The State Banquet brought to an end Macron's first day in the UK, with Sir Mick Jagger and Sir Elton John among the attendees.
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