UK and France agree new migrant returns deal

ODN

Sir Keir Starmer has announced a “ground-breaking” returns scheme with France. Under the pilot, small boat arrivals will be detained and sent back to France, while one person will be accepted into the UK via a legal route in exchange. The prime minister said the plan, starting in the coming weeks, will include strict security checks and aim to deter illegal crossings. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn

Transcript

00:00We're determined together to end this vile trade.

00:05There is no silver bullet here, but with a united effort, new tactics, and a new level

00:12of intent, we can finally turn the tables.

00:16So I'm pleased to announce our agreement today on a groundbreaking returns pilot.

00:23For the very first time, migrants arriving via small boat will be detained and returned

00:30to France in short order.

00:35In exchange for every return, a different individual will be allowed to come here via a safe route,

00:43controlled and legal, subject to strict security checks, and only open to those who have not

00:51tried to enter the UK illegally.

00:56This will show others trying to make the same journey, that it will be in vain, and the jobs

01:02they've been promised in the UK will no longer exist because of the nationwide crackdown we're

01:08delivering on illegal working, which is on a completely unprecedented scale.

01:14The President and I have agreed that this pilot will be implemented in coming weeks.

01:20Now, I know some people will still ask, why should we take anyone in?

01:27So let me address that directly.

01:29We accept genuine asylum seekers because it is right that we offer a haven to those in

01:36most dire need.

01:37But there's also something else here, something more practical, which is that we simply cannot

01:45solve a challenge like stopping the boats by acting alone and telling our allies that we

01:50won't play ball.

01:53That is why today's agreement is so important.

01:56Because we will solve this, like so many of our problems, by working together.

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