The UK pledged £662million to France to help end dangerous boat crossings across the English Channel.
Should Keir Starmer end the deal with Emmanuel Macron? (Image: Getty)
Keir Starmer is coming under increased scrutiny over his migration deal with France after an undercover Express investigation revealed the shocking speed illegal migrants can secure a small boat crossing to England.
Despite the UK shelling out £662million to end dangerous boat crossings, the reporter was given a fixer’s number just 20 minutes after arriving at a French migrant camp, and was negotiating a price with a group of Kurdish people smugglers within two hours. “I was surprised how easy it was,” the undercover reporter said, “It was so quick to find a smuggler who was slapping my chest and telling me he could bring me to England.”
So what do you think? Should Keir Starmer continue the deal with France, or revoke it? Vote in the poll below and join the discusion in the comments.
The Government said this money is used to detect and disrupt movements of migrants, boats and engine parts, and to prevent them from coming together at the coastline.
However, high profile officials slammed the renewal of the long-running deal at the time, stating little has been achieved by previous funding.
Carl Decaluwe, the governor of West Flanders, said: “You get nothing; nothing… If you see the results – year after year – new records!”
Some 41,472 people arrived in the UK by small boat in 2025, which was the second-highest annual figure since records began, and a 13% increase on 2024 arrivals (36,816 people).
The UK has already poured a substantial amount of money into the scheme. In the previous three-year deal with France, made in March 2023, the UK committed to €541million (around £476million at the time of the agreement).
Analysis suggests that contributing factors to the higher numbers in 2025 included favourable weather and sea conditions, and an increase in the average number of people travelling in each boat.
Fewer small boats and migrants have arrived so far in 2026 compared to the corresponding period in 2025.
Authorities said the investment has led to significant arrests. The National Crime Agency said the Joint Intelligence Cell, estabished by the UK and France in 2020, led to more than 300 arrests and the dismantling of at least 52 organised immigration crime gangs operating in France. It said many of the gangs were involved in organising small boat crossings.