The future of the deal is at risk after negotiators met in Paris last week.
The rate of migrants intercepted by the French has fallen (Image: Getty)
A key migrant deal between the UK and France will expire on Tuesday (March 31) with Britain issuing a key demand for it to be renewed. The three-year agreement, worth around £475 million, was signed by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron in 2023 to combat migration across the English Channel.
The deal focused on increasing law enforcement patrols along northern beaches in France. However, the future of the deal is at risk after negotiatiors met in Paris last week for the latest round of talks. The UK is reportedly demanding that France build a new migant centre in Dunkirk with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood adamant that the detention facility must be constructed for a deal to progress.
As reported by The Times, the original deal signed by Rishi Sunak included a new detention centre and commitments to deploy more French beach controls to prevent crossings. However, the construction of the centre has been stalled by planning issues.
The Home Office previously offered to extend the deal until 2027 if the detention centre was built. The UK agreed to help fund the facility as they hoped it would increase the capacity of French authorities to detain migrants before they attempted to cross the English Channel.
Ms Mahmood favours a “payment-by-results” model which would see Britain pay proportionately for the centre depending on the number of successful migrant interceptions. However, Reform UK’s Zia Yusuf said his party would demand a “full refund” from the French.
Shabana Mahmood is adamant the centre is built in order for a deal to progress (Image: Getty)
The party’s spokesman for Home Affairs claimed France is “laughing” at Britain in a post on social media. He wrote: “Tory and Labour governments have paid £700 million so far, and the boats keep coming in record numbers.
“The French are laughing at us. Reform would scrap the deal and demand a full refund from the French.”
According to Home Office data, the number of interceptions has fallen from more than 50% in 2023 to 37% this year. The statistics show that 4,897 migrants have tried to cross the Channel this year with only 1,797 successfully intercepted by the French authorities.
A total of 36,816 people arrived in UK via small boats in 2024. This figure increased to 41,472 last year with the government now planning a larger crackdown on illegal migration and asylum.