EU Intervention Throws Starmer's Small Boats Agreement with France into Doubt

Keir Starmer's primary strategy to address the small-boats crisis is facing potential setbacks due to objections from the European Union. The Prime Minister had planned to reveal an agreement with France based on a "one in, one out" principle. However, sources within Whitehall have expressed diminished expectations of a resolution this week, citing an intervention by the European Commission.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has voiced concerns, stating that a failure to secure a returns agreement with the French president would represent a further international embarrassment for the Prime Minister. He emphasized the need for decisive action, questioning the effectiveness of a scheme involving significant financial contributions to France if it fails to curb the number of migrants arriving.

The proposed agreement reportedly involved returning a portion of asylum seekers to France upon their arrival in Britain. In exchange, France would accept a corresponding number of applicants at an asylum processing center. The announcement was anticipated at a UK-France summit scheduled for Thursday, following the French President's state visit to the UK. However, government sources have indicated that the talks have been disrupted by the intervention from Brussels.