Conservatives call for new approach to combat crossings that doesn’t waste taxpayers’ money
The UK has failed to agree a new £650m deal with France to reduce Channel migrant crossings.
French negotiators resisted Shabana Mahmood’s demands for “more bang for our bucks” and no deal was struck by the deadline of midnight on Tuesday.
The UK will now pay the French £16.5m to continue beach patrols and surveillance for two months as part of an emergency extension to the current three-year, £475m deal, so talks can continue on a new agreement.
Conservatives and Reform UK described the extension as a “waste” of taxpayers’ money and called for a new approach to combat the crossings.
The Home Secretary is demanding that France hit new targets for reducing migrant crossings, and put more officers on the beaches in return for the extra £175m it has asked for.
However, the French have warned that linking funding to the number of interceptions is unrealistic because they claim it will endanger lives at sea.
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