French finally deploy teargas and pepper spray but STILL wave boats through as Starmer prepares ‘migrant merry-go-round’ swap deal with Macron
The Prime Minister is facing fresh misery in the Channel as UK authorities grapple with another significant surge in small boat arrivals, with at least 200 migrants crossing so far this morning on what is expected to be the hottest day of the year.
Other boats are currently pushing off from French beaches as people smugglers exploit perfect weather conditions, with several so-called “Red Days” expected over the next 10 days that could see thousands more making the perilous journey.
A Red Day yesterday saw almost 600 migrants making the illegal crossing, taking the total number of Channel migrants so far this year to more than 19,000 – a staggering 44 per cent higher than the 13,272 who had crossed at the same point last year.
The latest surge comes as French police have finally begun using teargas and pepper spray to try to disperse migrants gathering on beaches – but critics say it’s too little, too late as dinghies continue to launch from Calais under the noses of authorities.
‘One in, one out’ madness
In what Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has branded a “migrant merry-go-round,” the Prime Minister is expected to announce a controversial swap deal with France during President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to the UK next week.
The proposed agreement would see France take back some small boat migrants in exchange for Britain accepting a set quota of other French-based migrants – effectively creating a revolving door system.
We pay the French half a billion pounds to wave the boats off from Calais, and in return we get a migrant merry-go-round where the same number still come here,” Philp blasted.
The French are failing to stop the boats at sea, failing to return them like the Belgians do, and now instead of demanding real enforcement, Labour are trying a one in, one out gimmick.
Teargas too late
This month, French authorities are also expected to begin pushing migrant boats back to shore – but only if the dinghies are still in shallow water and police rigid-inflatables can get to them before they head into deeper water.
The new enforcement measures come after years of criticism that French police have been standing by watching as boats launch from their beaches, despite Britain paying hundreds of millions for patrols.
Senior maritime sources have told GB News the number of migrant crossings is set to soar over the next fortnight, with calm seas and warm weather creating perfect conditions for the criminal gangs.
By Tuesday alone, it is likely that the figure for the year so far will easily top 20,000 – putting 2025 on track to be the worst year ever for Channel crossings.
Record-breaking surge
The shocking figures reveal:
- 19,000+ migrants have crossed so far this year
- 44% increase compared to same period in 2024
- 600 arrived on Sunday’s “Red Day” alone
- 10 days of perfect smuggling conditions ahead
- 20,000 milestone expected by Tuesday
Data from the Migration Observatory shows that from January to May 2025, there were around 14,800 small boat crossings – the highest ever number for this period and 42% more than in the same period in 2024.
The surge has piled pressure on the Labour government, which returned to power nearly a year ago partly on disillusionment with the previous Conservative administration’s efforts to get a grip on the numbers.
Macron’s royal treatment
As the crisis deepens, President Macron will enjoy the full pomp and ceremony of a state visit from July 8-10, staying at Windsor Castle as a guest of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.
The visit comes after Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Macron at the G7 Summit earlier this month, where they agreed migration should be “a key focus given the deteriorating situation in the Channel.
French interior minister Bruno Retailleau hoped the new deal would “send a clear message” to those planning to undertake the perilous journey – though critics say the message is that Britain remains a soft touch.
Gangs rake in millions
The people-smuggling networks continue to profit from human misery, charging between £3,000 and £6,000 per crossing attempt in overcrowded dinghies.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We all want to end the dangerous small boat crossings, which threaten lives and undermine our border security.
The people-smuggling gangs do not care if the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay and we will stop at nothing to dismantle their business models and bring them to justice.
Deaths at sea soar
The human cost of the crisis continues to mount, with 73 people dying trying to cross the English Channel by small boat in 2024 – more than in all previous years put together.
The crossings typically surge during summer months when calmer seas make the journey less treacherous, though the Channel remains one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes with powerful currents and cold water temperatures.
Hotel bills spiral
The cost to taxpayers continues to spiral out of control, with housing asylum seekers in hotels now costing over £8 million a day – nearly £3 billion a year according to Home Office figures.
Policy Exchange estimates the total annual cost of the small boats crisis is “in the region of £3.5bn” – money that could fund 73,000 basic visits to Accident and Emergency units.
As perfect smuggling conditions set in for the next fortnight, maritime experts warn the coming days could see unprecedented numbers attempting the crossing – with French enforcement measures proving too weak to stem the tide.
The stage is set for a summer of Channel chaos that will test Starmer’s promise to “smash the gangs” to breaking point.
Image credit:
HMC Alert. Photo by Peter Facey, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
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