UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron will discuss migrant returns during Downing Street talks, amid growing pressure to curb record Channel crossings.
As reported by The Independent, Sir Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron will hold talks at Downing Street on Wednesday as pressure mounts to secure a migrant return deal.
Why is Macron’s state visit crucial for Keir Starmer’s migration strategy?
French President Emmanuel Macron arrived on 8 July for the first state visit to the UK by an EU leader since Brexit. The visit comes as Britain urges France to take stronger action on Channel beach crossings.
The Labour leader is facing pressure to revive his “one in, one out” deal with France, aimed at tackling the rise in small boat Channel crossings.
The proposed agreement involves Britain accepting asylum seekers based in Europe who have connections to the UK.
However, the French president’s state visit began under fears that the deal with the UK could fall apart.
Sources say Starmer intended to showcase the agreement as a key success of the visit, but the plan faced pushback from five EU countries. These include:
- Italy
- Spain
- Greece
- Malta
- Cyprus
Number 10 denies the migrant deal has collapsed, though officials admit the outlook remains “complex” as small boat crossings hit record levels.
How is France responding to UK migrant deal concerns?
Sources at the Élysée Palace said that Mr Macron expects Britain to curb its appeal to Channel migrants to secure the agreement.
A French source denied claims that the UK is being blamed, adding,
“The French president looks forward to working with the prime minister constructively on this shared priority.”
What did Downing Street say about UK-French ties?
A Downing Street spokesperson described the relationship between Sir Keir Starmer and President Macron as “excellent.” They added that UK-France cooperation is at its strongest point yet.
When questioned about the “one in, one out” deal, the spokesperson said,
“I wouldn’t comment on specific things ahead of a summit. We can expect progress on a wide range of priorities, including migration, but I’m not going to speculate on specifics ahead of a summit that is yet to take place.”
Events planned for Macron’s visit to Britain
As part of Wednesday’s state visit, Mr Starmer and Mr Macron will meet business representatives from both countries. They will also take part in a cultural event at the British Museum, alongside their official talks.
Brigitte Macron and Lady Victoria Starmer will share tea and take a guided tour of Downing Street, followed by lunch with their spouses.
During their Windsor visit with the King, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron will lay flowers at Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb. They will also tour the Royal Mews and view the horse he gifted her in 2022 to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
What did Macron say about UK-France relations?
Emmanuel Macron called his UK visit “an important moment for our two nations.”
He said,
“The United Kingdom is a strategic partner, an ally, a friend. Our bond is longstanding, forged by history and strengthened by trust.”
Mr Macron added,
“Together, we will address the major challenges of our time: security, defence, nuclear energy, space, innovation, artificial intelligence, migration, and culture. These are all areas in which we seek to act together and deepen our co-operation in a concrete, effective and lasting way.”
He said at Thursday’s Franco-British summit, decisions would aim to reflect shared goals for cooperation and produce concrete outcomes on major matters.
What did Heidi Alexander say about the deal with France?
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said,
“We’re working very closely with the French authorities, and the visit of President Macron this week is another opportunity to continue those discussions.”
She added,
“We welcome that and we want to build on it. I know that the prime minister spoke with President Macron at the weekend … We’ve been honest that this is a problem that we’re not going to fix overnight.”