UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Robert Jenrick said France could end small boat crossings immediately, as Keir Starmer struggles to finalise a migrant deal with Macron during his UK visit.
As reported by The Telegraph, Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick claimed that Emmanuel Macron has the power to end migrant small boat Channel crossings if he chooses to act.
What did Robert Jenrick say about France’s role in curbing Channel crossings?
Robert Jenrick said France “could be doing so much more to help us if they wanted.”
He suggested on Wednesday that France has the capacity to stop small boat crossings if it takes stronger action along its own shores.
Mr Jenrick warned against depending on “the kindness of strangers” and backed Tory demands for tougher detention and deportation policies.
The Conservative MP said,
“It is important that we have good relations with our nearest neighbour, France. But I think Macron and the French could be doing so much more to help us if they wanted.”
He stated,
“They could stop the small boats, frankly, tomorrow if they got their gendarmes out on the beaches, into the shallow waters, turning back the boats as some of our other neighbours do, like the Belgians, for example. But I don’t think we should just be leaving this to the kindness of strangers. We have got to have our own sovereign deterrent.”
Mr Jenrick said,
“That is why I was a proponent of Rwanda, that is why I feel we have to have a very simple system of our own that does not rely on anyone else which is if you come here illegally you are detained and you are deported back home to your own country or a safe third country – in hours and days, not months and years.”
The shadow secretary stated,
“Yes, we should also be tackling the pull factors to the UK. You should not be able to work in the black market… that is why, frankly, we should not be housing illegal migrants in hotels, living the life of Riley when they should be in detained accommodation and then sent back home as quickly as possible.”
He added,
“But the absolute heart of the issue is not what happens when you are here, it is that you should never be allowed to stay in the UK, and you should be removed as quickly as possible so you don’t get a foothold in the UK.”
Mr Jenrick described the policy as a “gimmick” and argued it would fail to deliver results, while Tory officials insisted the flights would serve as a strong deterrent.
What did Nigel Farage say about Robert Jenrick?
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said he believes Robert Jenrick is likely to adopt an even tougher stance on migration issues before voters head to the polls.
He added,
“I suspect he will probably go further – that’s just my instinct for someone who wants to make noise.”
Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the UK
Emmanuel Macron arrived in the UK on 8 July for a state visit, during which Prime Minister Starmer aimed to secure a migrant deal with him.
Under the plan, France would take back Channel-crossing migrants in exchange for Britain accepting an equal number of asylum seekers.
The agreement remains “in the balance,” and it is unclear if it will be finalised before Macron concludes his visit to the UK on Thursday.
President Macron wants Mr Starmer to act on the domestic incentives that make the UK attractive to Channel migrants.
The Prime Minister hopes to negotiate a migrant exchange plan, returning small boat migrants to Europe while accepting asylum seekers with UK ties.
The Elysee said,
“The French president looks forward to working with the Prime Minister constructively on this shared priority.”
Speaking to Parliament, Mr Macron vowed to curb Channel crossings and described the migrant crisis as a burden for both nations.
His state visit follows a milestone week in which small boat Channel crossings this year exceeded 20,000.