The prime minister told reporters on the flight to Bali that illegal immigration and the economy were his two main issues as he welcomed a new deal with France. “I think the absolute priority that British people have at the moment, as I do, is to crack down on illegal immigration,” Mr Sunak told the press travel package en route to Indonesia. “I’m committed to keeping it over the summer and I can tell you I’ve spent more time working on it than anything other than the fall statement in the last couple of weeks.” Under the deal, the UK’s annual payments to France to help police the border are set to rise to €72m (£63m) in 2022/23, up from €62.7m (£54.8m) for 2021/22. Image: Rishi Sunak on his way to the G20 in Bali. Photo: AP PM under pressure The deal is a much-needed positive for a prime minister who is under heavy pressure over small boat crossings, with the number of people making the trip across the Channel reaching a record high of more than 40,000 this year. The much-hyped plan to send some migrants to Rwanda has also failed to materialize, while the Home Office is under fire for allowing overcrowding at the Manston processing center in Kent, where 4,000 migrants were held in a facility designed for 1,500 people.
The agreement includes:
• A 40% increase in the number of officers patrolling beaches in northern France to increase the early detection and disruption of illegal small boat crossings • Investment in port security infrastructure in France to prevent illegal entry via trucks. This includes increased surveillance, more CCTV, new surveillance technology and sniffer dog teams • More technology to better equip officers to prevent crossings, including drones and night vision capabilities • Agreement to strengthen cooperation with European partners, with plans for a meeting of neighboring “Calais Group” countries as soon as possible to promote progress • A new task force, focused on reversing the recent increase in Albanian nationals and organized crime groups exploiting illegal migration routes to Western Europe and the UK • Joint UK-France analysis teams to build on existing intelligence sharing channels and enhance operational cooperation as part of the French command headquarters • Investment in reception and removal centers in France for migrants whose journeys to the UK are blocked, to prevent crossing attempts and provide them with safe options. Only 4% of people who arrived in small boats last year received a decision on their asylum application. “I’ve been honest that there’s nothing we can do to fix it and we can’t fix it overnight,” Mr Sunak said. “But there are a number of things I’m working on, including the deal with France, where I’m sure we can reduce the numbers over time and that’s what I’ll bring.” Mr Sunack is under huge pressure to solve this thorny problem, with Tory MPs saying small boat crossings are one of the biggest issues brought to the doorstep by voters. Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, who signed the agreement in France on Monday morning, said: “There are many elements in the agreement and I think it represents a positive next step in our cooperation with the French. “It’s not going to be fixed overnight. It’s not a silver bullet. But I think for the first time we have some real wins for both the French and the UK.” Use Chrome browser for more accessible video player 1:46 Chaotic scenes as migrants try to cross the canal Read more: Traffickers turn to new and more dangerous ways to smuggle people across the Channel Under the new deal there will be a 40% increase in 200 officers patrolling the beaches and, for the first time, British officers will be integrated with their French counterparts in a bid to stop people making the crossing. The UK government will also invest money in migrant centers and an operational center in France in a bid to deter migrants. The UK spends a total of €200m (£174.8m) each year dealing with all issues relating to the UK border. Victory in Downing Street While the deal is not huge, it is nevertheless significant and perhaps represents a period of greater cooperation between London and Paris. Mr Sunak raised the issue of illegal immigration with his French counterpart in their first official meeting on the sidelines of the COP27 climate summit in Egypt last week. Early cooperation in Mr Sounac’s premiership between London and Paris will be seen as a victory in Downing Street after Liz Truss was upset to say “the jury is out” on whether President Emmanuel Macron was friend or foe. Click to subscribe to Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts
