UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Minister of State Baroness Jacqui Smith refuses to reveal numbers as migrants who crossed the Channel are set to return to France this week.
As reported by The Standard, Baroness Jacqui Smith declined to disclose how many migrants will be returned to France this week under the UK’s “one in, one out” deal.
What did Baroness Jacqui Smith say about migrant return numbers?
During an interview, Baroness Smith refused to provide any estimate of how many migrants are expected to be returned under the UK-France deal.
Migrants arriving via small boats in the Channel are set to be sent back on commercial flights, with the first departures possible if no legal challenges arise.
When questioned about the expected number of returns, Ms Smith responded,
“We will not discuss the details of the numbers scheduled for removal this week.”
She said,
“But it is as a consequence of part of the action that the Government is taking to tackle the problem of illegal migration, particularly that which I understand people are concerned about, relating to those that are coming across the Channel in small boats.”
Ms Smith stated,
“We’re not going to be talking about specific numbers or specific timing. At some point in the future, it will be possible to see the impact that this is having on the overall numbers of people who are coming here and the increased numbers of people who have already been returned because they don’t have a right to be in this country.”
The minister said,
“Of course I understand people are worried about illegal migration, that’s why we’ve taken the range of action that we’ve taken.”
She added that ministers are working to understand public concerns and taking effective measures to address them.
What is the “one in, one out” deal and how will it affect Channel migrants?
Under UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s “one in, one out” deal, the first migrants were detained on August 6, with the initial flight possibly scheduled for Monday.
As part of the pilot, asylum seekers returning to France will be exchanged for applicants approved to enter Britain.
According to reports, those who arrived in the UK by small boats last month have been told they will be deported within five days.
Air France has scheduled its first flights on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, ahead of US President Trump’s UK visit.
Home Office’s stance on returning Channel migrants to France
A Home Office spokesperson said,
“Under the new UK-France treaty, people crossing in small boats can now be detained and removed to France. We expect the first returns to take place imminently.”
They added,
“Protecting the UK border is our top priority. We will do whatever it takes to restore order to secure our borders.”
Keir Starmer’s views on the UK-France migrant deal
Sir Keir Starmer said,
“This ground-breaking deal is a crucial further step in turning the tide on illegal small boat crossings and restoring order to our immigration system.”
He stated,
“For the first time, illegal migrants will be sent back to France – targeting the heart of these gangs’ business model and sending a clear message that these life-threatening journeys are pointless.”
The prime minister added,
“By resetting our relationships across Europe we’ve made levels of co-operation possible never seen before. This is about grip not gimmicks, and what serious government looks like – taking down these criminal enterprises piece by piece as we secure our borders through my Plan for Change.”
What did Yvette Cooper say about the Channel small-boats deal?
Ex-Home Secretary and current Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, at the time of the deal, said,
“Dangerous small boats in our Channel undermine our border security and put lives at risk. That is why we are so determined to work with France to go after the criminal smuggler gangs, to undermine their business model, to begin returns and to prevent boat crossings.”
She stated,
“This new pilot agreement with France is extremely important and allows us for the first time to return people who have paid to travel here illegally, and will sit alongside our wider joint enforcement action, including disrupting supply chains to seize boats and engines, shutting down social media accounts, and targeting finances.”
Ms Cooper added,
“Since last summer, we have returned over 30,000 people with no right to be in the UK and a major surge in immigration enforcement activity, with a 51% increase in the number of illegal working arrests. We are building the foundations of a new and stronger approach to protecting our border security.”
Key facts about the illegal migrants in the UK
In the year ending June 2025, 49,341 irregular migrants arrived in the UK, a 27% rise from the previous year, mostly via small boats. Adult males make up 75% of arrivals, children 16%, with Afghans, Eritreans, Iranians, Sudanese, and Syrians the top nationalities.
Despite the increase, only 3–4% of small boat arrivals since 2018 have been returned, with enforced removals limited. Returns reached 34,000 in 2024, the highest since 2017, but remain a small portion of total arrivals.