Britain’s “one-in, one-out” migrant deal with France is off to a rocky start, with new figures showing that arrivals continue to vastly outnumber deportations despite government claims of progress.
Under the scheme agreed between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, migrants arriving illegally by small boat are to be returned to France in exchange for allowing approved asylum seekers to enter the UK via a legal route.
But while the Home Office confirmed the first family of three—including a small child—arrived in Britain after applying in France, just six people have been deported so far, compared to 1,157 arrivals in the same week.
Ministers insist the deal will deter dangerous Channel crossings. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy described the pilot programme, running until June next year, as “just the beginning” and promised to increase deportations in the coming months.
More than 32,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats so far in 2025, with over 1,000 in a single day last week alone. Critics say the numbers show the government is struggling to get a grip on the crisis.
