PM and Macron expected to announce 'one in, one out' deal to stop small boats

UK and France expected to announce trial of 'one in, one out' migrant deal

Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron are expected to announce a trial of a 'one in, one out' migrant deal that could see up to 50 small boat arrivals returned to France each week.

Under the scheme, the French would accept the returns in exchange for the UK accepting the same number of asylum seekers with a family connection in the UK.

The deal could see roughly 800 migrants returned to France by Christmas - but over 21,000 have already arrived this year alone.

The trial scheme, first reported by The Times newspaper, will be scaled up if the initial pilot works as expected.

The details of the scheme are yet to be finalised, and it is likely that it will be a key topic of discussion during the Anglo-French summit in Downing Street this morning.

But speaking to Sky's Wilfred Frost in the last hour, Defence Secretary John Healey said we will "hear more from the prime minister and President Macron" at a news conference later on how they plan to tackle small boat crossings.

He added: "The discussions are only taking place because over the last year, we've been able to establish with the French a recognition that this is a shared challenge, that they are working together with us."

Joint efforts have prevented 12,000 crossings this year alone, he added.

Politics At Sam And Anne's: Why Boris's best mate is off to Reform

Former Conservative chairman and friend of Boris Johnson - Sir Jake Berry - is defecting to Reform UK, causing more problems for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

On today's episode, Sky News' Sam Coates and Politico's Anne McElvoy discuss if his defection will divide parts of Reform policy.

Elsewhere, the Anglo-French summit gets under way, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hoping to announce a migration deal with French President Emmanuel Macron to deter small boat crossings.

Plus, chatter around Whitehall that No10 are considering a pre-summer reshuffle, but will it have any value?

Sky News films small boats in Channel - as coastguard confirms 'multiple incidents'

As Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron meet to finalise a deal that they hope will stop small boat crossings, Sky News has been out in the English Channel.

Our Europe correspondent Adam Parsons has witnessed small boats making the perilous journey, and the coastguard has confirmed that it is responding to "multiple incidents" today.

The said in a statement: "HM Coastguard has been coordinating a response to multiple incidents involving small boats in the Channel this morning, 10 July.

"UK Border Force vessels have been sent as part of this response."

PM says UK and France will use 'new tactics' to stop small boats

Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron are currently meeting in Downing Street, alongside their respective teams.

At the top of the meeting, the PM said: "In uncertain times, we achieve more by strengthening our relationship with our allies, so that is what today is all about working together on the priorities that we share as two nations.

"For us, it’s about delivering the changes that the British people want to see, and we will agree the situation in the Channel cannot go on as it is.

"So we’re bringing new tactics into play and a new level of intent to tackle illegal migration and break the business model of the criminal gangs."

Attendees at the meeting in Downing Street include Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband.

In his opening remarks, the French president agreed that people smuggling must be stopped, and said they have a "common resolve to fight this trafficking" and "protect our people".

He added: "We will work with countries of first entry in Europe as our intention is also to engage all countries who share a responsibility alongside us."

'Physical threat' from Iran on people living in UK has 'increased significantly' - watchdog

The threat of physical attacks by Iran on people living in the UK has increased "significantly" since 2022, according to a new report by parliament's intelligence watchdog.

Iran poses a "wide-ranging, persistent and unpredictable threat" to the UK, according to the Intelligence and Security Committee.

It also said Iran's intelligence services were "willing and able - often through third party agents - to attempt assassination within the UK, and kidnap from the UK".

The report said there have been 15 murder or kidnap attempts against British citizens or UK-based individuals since the beginning of 2022.

Sky News asks Macron in French if he can stop the boats as he arrives at No 10

The French president arrived in Downing Street a short while ago for talks with Sir Keir Starmer on a range of issues - including illegal migration.

Our bilingual political correspondent Mhari Aurora was there as Emmanuel Macron arrived, and she asked him directly in French if he can stop the small boats crossing the Channel.

All smiles for le 'family photo' ahead of crunch talks

The prime minister, the French president, and their respective top teams have just taken the traditional family photo ahead of the UK-France summit.

Back row, from left to right: UK Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty, French minister for Europe Jean-Noel Barrot, UK Defence Secretary John Healey, French armed forces minister Sebastien Lecornu, UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, French energy minister Marc Ferracci.

Front row, from left to right: French finance minister Eric Lombard, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, French interior minister Bruno Retailleau, UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

'Le Bromance' continues: Big hug as Starmer greet Macron outside Downing

Sir Keir Starmer has welcomed Emmanuel Macron to Downing Street for the second day running.

The pair shared a big embrace as the French president arrived, and they then wandered into No 10 to get going on the business of the day.

PM welcomes Macron to Downing Street for Anglo-French summit

For the second time in two days, the red carpet has been rolled out in front of No 10 (literally), and Sir Keir Starmer is welcoming Emmanuel Macron to Downing Street once again.

The two leaders and their (very large) delegations are set to discuss a range of topics this morning, with stopping small boat crossings top of the agenda.

Watch the arrival live on Sky News now, and we'll bring you shortly the two leaders' comments at the top of their plenary meeting shortly.

If the struggling PM can land a deal on small boats, he will take it as a huge win

We've just been hearing from our political editor Beth Rigby, who is in Downing Street awaiting the arrival of the French president for the Anglo-French summit.

She said there has clearly been a "real reset between the UK and France after Brexit", with the French president the first European leader to come to the UK for a state visit since that departure.

"In Downing Street today, the prime minister and the president of France are going to be discussing core issues to them."

On Emmanuel Macron's agenda is defence as the US withdraws from European defence, the coalition of the willing, and stopping small boats.

Beth went on to say that we are also expecting the two leaders to announce a 'one in, one out' deal on small boat crossings, which could see several hundred illegal arrivals returned to France in exchange for an asylum seeker with some form of family connection in the UK.

"They are hoping to nail it down later today," Beth said, adding that ministers hope the deal will "deter people coming over because they know they will be sent back".

It is likely to be a trial for the remainder of the year, but the details are still "up in the air".

Alongside this deal, there could be an announcement that the government will ramp up efforts to stop illegal working to make the UK less attractive.

"If the prime minister does manage to land this, it will be a big moment for him," Beth explains. "He is really struggling in the polls, small boats is a massive issue domestically, and immigration is a top three voter concern.

"If he can land this deal, and signify to the British people that he's trying to do more with France to really clamp down on arrivals - he will take that as a big win."

'You're not in the way, Mr Miliband'

The French president is due to arrive in Downing Street shortly for the Anglo-French summit, and preparations are under way for his arrival.

But as the red carpet was being rolled out, a certain cabinet minister rocked up, and definitely did not get in the way...!

UK making 'slow progress' on stopping small boats, defence secretary says

The defence secretary is speaking to media this morning, and the government's efforts to tackle small boat crossings is very much top of the agenda.

John Healey told LBC that the government is making "slow progress" on addressing the crisis, and said it needs "joint action" with the French.

He said the government has deported 30,000 people in the last year and reduced the number of people in asylum hotels.

"This is slow progress, but it is progress, and it can only be based [...] on the sort of agreements and joint action that we'll see, I hope, announced at the summit today," he said.

Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron are expected to announce a trial of a 'one in, one out' migrant deal that could see up to 50 small boat arrivals returned to France each week.

-SKY NEWS