As 3,567 migrants cross Channel since UK-France deal Labour admits ZERO have been returned

The Government has been forced to admit that not a single Channel migrant has been sent back to France despite ministers' bold promises that their much-trumpeted "one in, one out" deal would be operational within weeks.

Labour ministers had confidently claimed when the agreement was announced in July that deportations would begin almost immediately, with the first small boat arrivals earmarked for return being detained in Dover at the start of August.

But Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was forced to tell Parliament on Monday that she now expects the long-delayed deportations to finally begin "later this month" - leaving critics questioning whether the flagship policy will ever deliver results. The admission comes as it was reported how the small boat migrants crisis could be managed by the possible silver bullet UK is rumbling toward.

Ministers refuse to reveal deportation numbers

Ms Cooper refused to tell MPs how many people would be included in the first batch of returns, while a staggering 3,567 more migrants have successfully crossed the Channel in dinghies since the deal with France was supposedly ratified - adding to what are already record numbers arriving this year.

The admission came as the Home Secretary launched a separate crackdown on the family reunion scheme, effectively barring refugees from bringing their partners and children to the UK, while Sir Keir Starmer pledged to accelerate the closure of expensive asylum hotels following angry protests across the country.

Tories blast government failure

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp delivered a scathing assessment of Labour's border control efforts, telling the Mail: "The Government claimed in July that a handful of migrants would be sent back to France within weeks - but it's now September and not a single person has been sent back.

"Under Labour, a small boat to the UK is a one-way ticket to one of Keir Starmer's cushy hotels - paid for by hard-pressed taxpayers. This weak government has lost control of our borders and won't do what is needed to fix it.

"Labour has flung open the doors to the UK and this year they have let in the highest number of illegal immigrants across the channel ever.

"They are too weak to do what's needed to fix this - which is make sure that every single illegal immigrant is removed immediately upon arrival. Then, no one would bother crossing in the first place."

Promises versus reality

The one-in, one-out deal was announced with great fanfare by the Prime Minister and President Emmanuel Macron on July 10th at the conclusion of the Anglo-French summit.

Sir Keir described the "ground-breaking" pilot project at the time - under which some migrants arriving in small boats would be detained and returned to France while the same number of genuine asylum-seekers would be allowed to come to the UK - promising it would begin "in the coming weeks."

The Home Secretary reinforced these expectations when she told MPs on July 14th that "that pilot will be operationalised in the coming weeks."

Detained migrants still waiting

It was announced on August 4th that the treaty had been ratified, followed by the Home Office revealing that "detentions began for those who arrived in the UK on a small boat" on August 6th, with officials stating: "The UK will make referrals to France within 3 days, and the French authorities will be expected to respond within 14 days."

But almost four weeks later, the cases are still grinding through the bureaucratic process, although sources insisted that those originally detained remain in custody.

Ms Cooper told the Commons on Monday: "In August I signed the new treaty with France allowing us for the first time to directly return those who arrive on small boats.

"The first detentions took place the next day - of people immediately on arrival at Dover. And we expect the first returns to begin later this month.

"Applications have also been opened for the reciprocal legal route, with the first cases under consideration, subject to the strict security checks."

Government dodges key questions

When pressed about how many people would actually be returned over the coming year, amid reports suggesting it could be fewer than 50 per week, Ms Cooper offered only vague reassurances.

"We have set out that this is a pilot, and that we want to build and grow it," she replied.

"There is no cap on the overall numbers to go as part of the pilot, and we need to build it as we go."

The Home Secretary attempted to deflect criticism by highlighting that the National Crime Agency, Britain's equivalent of the FBI, had led a record "347 disruptions of immigration crime networks" in the past year.

Record Channel crossings continue

But Mr Philp pointed out that 84 per cent of these disruptions were "classified as not being high impact" and the NCA had managed only 26 arrests for organised immigration crime.

He also highlighted Ms Cooper's failure to address the continuing surge in Channel crossings.

"Far from smashing the gangs, so far this year, 29,000-to be precise, 29,003-illegal immigrants have crossed the English Channel. That is the worst year in history, and it is up by 38 per cent compared with last year."

The Government had attempted to highlight that the number of boats crossing the Channel in August stood at 55, the lowest since 2019. However, the number of migrants packed into those boats reached 3,567 for the month - a figure only marginally lower than recent years.

Political pressure mounts

Despite announcing plans to suspend new applications to the refugee family reunion route, and the PM telling the BBC he wanted to speed up having asylum hotels "emptied," Ms Cooper faced growing demands from Labour backbenchers to take stronger action against illegal migration.

A Labour source attempted damage control on Monday night, insisting: "We operationalised the France returns pilot, we already have people in detention to deport back to France in coming weeks."

The insider added: "The Tories promised everyone would be returned to Rwanda - their £700 million gimmick was announced two years before they sent just four volunteers.

"Labour are strengthening our international cooperation, tackling immigration crime and disrupting those who facilitate these dangerous boat crossings."