UK and France agree to 'one in, one out' migrant deal

Migrants who arrive to the UK on small boats are set to be sent back to France ‘within weeks’, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced.

Speaking at a press conference this afternoon in north London, Starmer unveiled the much talked-about details of the ‘one in one out’ deal with President Emmanuel Macron.

He told members of the media: ‘There is no silver bullet here, but with a united effort, new tactics and a new level of intent, we can finally turn the tables.

‘So I am pleased to announce our agreement today on a groundbreaking returns pilot.

‘For the very first time, migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned to France in short order.’

He said those trying to come to the UK on small boat crossings will be ‘in vain’.

‘In exchange for every return, a different individual will be allowed to come here via a safe route, controlled and legal, subject to strict security checks and only open to those who have not tried to enter the UK illegally,’ he added.

‘This will show others trying to make the same journey that it will be in vain, and the jobs they have been promised in the UK will no longer exist because of the nationwide crackdown we’re delivering on illegal working which is on a completely unprecedented scale.

‘The president and I have agreed that this pilot will be implemented in the coming weeks.’

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron visiting the Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) centre in Northwood, London (Picture: Leon Neal/PA Wire)

Starmer and Macron were locked in discussions for two days during the President’s state visit to find a solution that will keep all sides happy.

The deal means for every small-boat migrant who is sent back to the continent, an asylum seeker with a genuine link to the UK would be brought over.

While this would initially mean no change in the number of people arriving in the UK, it’s hoped migrants would be deterred from making the trip if they think there’s a chance they won’t get to stay.

However, reports suggest the plans would start small.

According to French newspaper Le Monde, around 50 migrants a week would be swapped at first – meaning only a fraction of small boat arrivals would be sent back under the deal.

More than 21,000 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats from France so far in 2025, the highest number ever for this point in the year.

Hundreds of people arrived in the UK on small boats last week alone (Picture: Gareth Fuller/PA Wire)

At the current rate of crossings, just one in 17 migrants arriving in the UK would be returned if the ’50 per week’ figure proves accurate.

Sir Keir said in the press conference today that the model was ‘groundbreaking because it breaks the model’ and said it would ‘ramp up’ after the pilot.

Asked how the 50 people would be chosen, the PM said: ‘I’m not going to go into the details of that, because that has the potential to undermine how this will operate.’

The ‘one in, one out’ approach has been criticised by several other EU countries, including Italy, Spain and Greece, due to concerns it could lead to them having to take in people who have been returned to the Continent.

Meanwhile, Macron has been asking the UK to address the ‘pull factors’ that lead migrants to attempt the dangerous journey across the sea in the first place.

Starmer scrapped Conservative plans for migrants to be sent to Rwanda soon after the election, instead placing focus on ‘smashing the gangs’ that charge thousands to sail people to England in flimsy vessels.

In the first year of his government, he has announced a number of deals with countries including Vietnam and Albania to tackle what is formally called irregular migration.

But the increased number of arrivals so far this year suggests this technique is not yet bearing fruit.

Macron said Brexit was largely to blame for the situation in the Channel, arguing those who campaigned for it ‘sold a lie to the British people, which is that the problem is Europe’.