A Home Office source said the Government was determined to ‘do things differently’ (Image: Getty)
Britain’s new Channel migration deal with France has reportedly stalled after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood pushed for a harder-edged agreement that ties British funding directly to the number of crossings French authorities actually stop.
The Home Office is seeking to replace the existing arrangement — under which Britain foots nearly two-thirds of the £160million annual bill for migrant patrols in northern France — with a payment-by-results model that only releases funds once Paris meets specific interception targets.
The Express understands Ms Mahmood has dug in on the tougher terms, a stance that has left negotiators on both sides anxious about what happens to crossing numbers if the current arrangement lapses before a new one is signed.
France’s record
The French interception rate has deteriorated markedly since the last deal was signed, reports GB News. Patrols were stopping more than half of all attempted crossings in 2023 — the year a nearly £500million agreement was reached — but that figure has since fallen to around 37 per cent.
What threshold Ms Mahmood has set as her target has not been disclosed publicly, though diplomatic history is not encouraging — Paris is said to have previously walked away from talks when an 80 per cent interception rate was floated.
A Home Office source involved in the talks told the Times the Government was determined to “do things differently” and extract the best possible terms from Paris.
“They’re holding out for as much money as possible,” the source said of the French position.
The Home Office declined to comment on specific terms, but a spokesman said: “We are building flexibility and innovation into any new deal with the French to ensure long-term value for money and a real impact on small boat crossings.”
A spokesman for Sir Keir Starmer reportedly said both countries were aligned on stopping crossings, but that the UK wanted to ensure any new agreement delivered “long-term value for money.”
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Crossings surge
The pressure to reach a deal quickly is underlined by the numbers. Close to 1,000 migrants made the crossing in a single six-day window, according to GB News, after a spell of calmer weather opened a window for small boat operators.
Critics have long questioned the value of the existing arrangement, pointing out that the majority of small boats departing French shores still complete the journey to Britain. Ms Mahmood has pushed back, maintaining that dismantling French patrols entirely would produce far worse results.
Lucy Moreton of the Immigration Services Union is reported to have questioned what motivation France had to prevent crossings beyond financial considerations and safety concerns.
She reportedly said: “These are people who want to leave their country, so why would you stand in their way if they want to leave it?
“Their only interest is making certain that the migrants make it out of French waters alive.”
