Migrants were pictured leaving France on a small boat headed to the UK just hours before Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron were set to unveil a UK-France immigration deal. The UK and France will today announce the trial of a scheme that will see the countries operate a “one-in, one-out” policy which will result in around 800 migrants being returned to France by the end of the year.

The figure has been criticised for being just a fraction of the 44,000 who have arrived in the country since Labour’s election victory in July 2024. In return, a similar number will be brought to the UK to join family already in the country. The scheme will start in August, with the government hoping that it will lead to greater numbers being returned after the trial.

The deal between the two countries is designed to break the business model of criminal gangs who profit from enabling the perilous journey over the English Channel.

Images captured from the French coast this morning show migrants boarding overcrowded boats in a bid to enter the country prior to the announcement.

Labour has come under heavy criticism in recent months for “losing control” of the country’s borders, with one day last month seeing more than 1,000 people arrive in just 24 hours.

Channel crossings are at record highs so far this year, with more than 20,000 people having crossed the Channel already, representing the highest numbers since 2018.

A Downing Street spokesman said: “The leaders agreed tackling the threat of irregular migration and small boat crossings is a shared priority that requires shared solutions.

“The two leaders agreed on the need to go further and make progress on new and innovative solutions, including a new deterrent to break the business model of these gangs.”

The announcement will conclude the French President’s state visit, the first by a European leader since the UK voted to leave the European Union in 2016.

Speaking in Westminster on the first day of the visit, Macron said: “France and the United Kingdom have a shared responsibility to address irregular migration with humanity, solidarity and fairness.

“We will only arrive at a lasting and effective solution with action at the European level by addressing migration pull factors.”

Macron has called on the UK to address the issues which draw migrants to the UK in the first place.

Such issues are believed to include the ease with which work can be acquired, generous welfare policies for those whose applications are successful and the absence of ID cards which help to prevent detection.