United Kingdom Prime Minister, Andy Burnham and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to intensify efforts to tackle illegal migration across the English Channel, while also seeking closer cooperation between Britain and Europe.
Macron became the first foreign leader to visit Downing Street since Burnham became prime minister in July. The two leaders held talks on Thursday covering migration, Ukraine, UK-EU relations and the Middle East.
Following the meeting, Downing Street said both leaders believed progress had been made in reducing small boat crossings but agreed that further action was required.
Burnham described Macron as “our nearest neighbour and close friend Emmanuel”, adding that it was “so fitting” for him to be his first overseas visitor as prime minister.
“It shows what collaboration can achieve, just as we are also showing on Ukraine, on small boats, and also on strengthening the UK-EU relationship,” Burnham said.
Macron also stressed the importance of strengthening ties between the two countries.
“This is a very strong relationship. For me it is extremely important, and I’m here with willingness and a commitment to get closer,” he said.
The discussions come amid concerns over increasingly large vessels being used by people-smuggling gangs to transport migrants across the Channel.
A 15-metre vessel carrying 230 migrants was recorded crossing towards Britain earlier in August, highlighting the emergence of so-called “mega dinghies”.
In response, Downing Street said an additional 45 police officers would be deployed to French beaches as part of a “surge team” aimed at tackling the larger boats.
Home Office Minister Anna Turley said the new deployment was “just part of the armoury” of more than 1,000 officers operating along the northern French coastline.
She said officers were now carrying out “actual intervention” in the water, adding that recent footage showed them approaching boats, slashing them and pushing migrants back while facing resistance.
Burnham has also described people-smuggling gangs as a “shared European challenge” and has called for greater cooperation with European partners.
However, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the government’s approach, saying she welcomed greater cooperation with Europe but insisted that the crossings remained a problem.
“We have spent hundreds of millions, if not billions, paying the French to man the borders,” she said.
Beyond migration, Burnham and Macron discussed closer UK-EU relations, including concerns over a proposed European procurement policy that could affect British industries.
The leaders also discussed plans to establish local production lines in Ukraine for the Scalp long-range missile, a French counterpart to Britain’s Storm Shadow cruise missile.
The Middle East was also on the agenda, with both leaders discussing the need to prevent further escalation around the Strait of Hormuz.
Burnham separately raised Israel’s plans to advance settlement construction in the E1 area of the occupied West Bank, describing the move as “unacceptable and only served to undermine the prospect of the two-state solution”.
Macron’s visit also coincided with the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry to the British Museum, where it is due to go on public display next week.
