POLL: Should the UK pull the plug on £660m France migrant deal?

A big question mark is hovering over Britain’s £660million migrant deal with France after officials admitted they have “no solution” to stopping Channel crossings. The comments have sparked fresh debate over whether the UK should continue funding French border operations — and readers are now being asked whether the agreement should be scrapped altogether.

The £662million deal, signed last month, aims to strengthen security along the French coastline by deploying more officers and increasing patrols to stop small boats crossing the English Channel. However, local French leaders have cast doubt on whether it will make any real difference.

Should the UK pull the plug on the £660m France migrant deal? Vote in our poll and join the debate in the comments

Alain Boonefaes, deputy mayor responsible for security in Gravelines, said: “We have no solution. There will always be an influx of people who want to join the UK.”

Antoine Benoit, mayor of Audresselles near Calais, also dismissed the impact of increased patrols, saying they “will not change anything”.

The remarks are likely to anger many British taxpayers after more than 200,000 migrants crossed the Channel since records began in 2018.

Chris Philp said the comments confirmed longstanding concerns that the payments were ineffective. The Shadow Home Secretary accused ministers of handing over huge sums of money “without performance conditions”.

Critics argue France has repeatedly failed to prevent boats leaving its coastline despite years of UK funding, while supporters of the deal insist cooperation with French authorities remains essential to tackling people-smuggling gangs and reducing dangerous crossings.

Government figures show arrivals this year are currently lower than at the same point in previous years, though opponents argue the overall situation remains unacceptable.

With migration continuing to dominate political debate, questions are mounting over whether Britain should keep paying France to help police the Channel.