Downing Street 'open' to idea of new 'one in, one out' migrant deal which would see Britain take migrants from across the European Union

Downing Street today said it was ‘open’ to the idea of a new ‘one in, one out’ migrant deal which would see Britain take migrants from across the European Union.It came after French interior minister Laurent Nunez said he has warned UK counterparts his country wants to end the existing scheme.Paris wants to replace it with an EU-wide initiative which would see Britain send migrants back to several countries across the EU and take around the same number in return from those nations.At present, small boat Channel arrivals are only sent back to France under the deal struck between French President Emmanuel Macron and former UK premier Sir Keir Starmer last summer. While supporters claim it acts as a deterrent to crossings, critics say it is largely pointless because only a small proportion are returned.Negotiations are under way between London and Paris on whether to renew the existing one in, one out deal, due to expire on October 1.Asked about Mr Nunez’s comments today, a No10 spokesman said: ‘We will be open to discussions on any scheme that leads to a drop in these dangerous crossings.’Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp blasted: ‘Returns under the deal amount to under 5 per cent of arrivals – so letting 95 per cent of the illegal immigrants stay will not deter anything. It is understood Prime Minister Andy Burnham appealed directly to French President Emmanuel Macron to extend the existing scheme during their first bilateral meeting last week More than 17,000 small boat Channel arrivals have entered Britain so far this year, with a rise in so-called 'mega-dinghies' carrying 100 migrants at a time Tory shadow home secretary Chris Philp said Labour's 'one in, one out deal has failed and France is about to cancel it' ‘First the government laughably claimed they would “smash the gangs”. Now their one in one out deal has failed and France is about to cancel it.'No wonder nearly 20,000 illegal immigrants have crossed the Channel so far this year.‘France has become a launchpad for thousands of illegal Channel crossings, yet its Government seems more interested in washing its hands of the problem than stopping the boats on its own beaches - despite Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood handing them £660 million of our money.’It is understood Prime Minister Andy Burnham appealed directly to Mr Macron to extend the existing scheme during their first bilateral meeting last week.Ms Mahmood wants to make the arrangement permanent and increase the number of migrants being returned as a deterrent to further crossings.But critics point out that the number sent back is a small percentage of arrivals, with 17,281 small boat migrants having reached Britain so far this year.Britain has so far returned about 1,400 Channel migrants to France under the one in, one out scheme, which has sent a similar number of legitimate asylum seekers to the UK.While Channel crossings are down more than 40 per cent so far this year compared to 2025, the boats haven’t stopped.And people smugglers have switched tactics to using ‘mega-dinghies’ capable of carrying more than 100 migrants at a time and travelling further, meaning boats can be launched further away from Calais and Dunkirk to better avoid detection.In comments made by Mr Nunez in June, first reported by the Telegraph, he told a parliamentary inquiry: ‘For our part, we want to move away from this bilateral relationship with the UK.‘We consider that France should not have to carry it alone, and that it would be better to integrate it into an agreement between the EU and UK.‘So I have already clearly told my counterpart that this pilot agreement, which we signed in August 2025, was not intended to be renewed beyond Oct 1, 2026.’Asked whether an EU-wide replacement could be ready by then, he added: ‘There is an action plan, there is interest, but it would be naive of me to tell you there will be a mechanism to bridge the gap.’Such a deal could see Britain send back migrants to Europe and accept those with a genuine claim to asylum in the UK.It is unlikely UK ministers would agree to any deal that saw the UK take more migrants than it sent back.However, it is unlikely EU leaders – particularly from southern states where most migrants first enter the bloc – would agree to the proposals being pushed by Paris.An EU-wide returns deal – known as the Dublin agreement – existed before Britain left the EU but attempts to continue it as part of the Brexit deal have been snubbed by the bloc's leaders.A Home Office spokesman said: ‘The government’s agreement with France has been extended until the end of September.‘This will ensure we continue removing migrants who arrive on small boats through this programme over the summer.’