Macron Blames Brexit for Channel Migrant Surge as UK-French Deal Faces Turmoil

 

French President Emmanuel Macron has directly blamed Brexit for the worsening migrant crisis in the English Channel, claiming the British public was “sold a lie” and that leaving the EU has made illegal immigration harder to combat. His comments came as up to 600 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats on the same day that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a new “one in, one out” migration deal with France.

 

 

Speaking at a joint press conference with Starmer in Paris, Macron said, “The British people had been sold a lie that leaving the EU would make it possible to fight more effectively against illegal immigration.” He insisted that migration issues require “cooperation, a European approach,” rather than the isolated promises of “populists.” Pointing out that the UK now has “no migratory deal” with the EU, Macron warned that this “creates an incentive to make the crossing, the precise opposite of what Brexit had promised.”

 

 

The French president also recalled how road and rail migration routes had been effectively sealed prior to Brexit. “Let’s recall a few years ago, it was the subject of daily comments. We managed to fully close off these routes,” he said.

 

The UK has seen an alarming rise in small-boat crossings since leaving the EU, growing from 1,843 in 2019 to 45,774 in 2022. So far this year, a record 21,117 migrants have reached the UK—a 50 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

 

Despite Macron acknowledging that the newly announced return deal has yet to be formally agreed with the EU and will likely face legal hurdles, Starmer insisted it would take effect within weeks. He described it as a deterrent to people smugglers. “The purpose of that is a pilot to break the model and therefore obviously the numbers, if successful, will ramp up,” Starmer said.

 

Under the proposed scheme, small-boat migrants arriving from France would be denied asylum, detained, and returned to France under inadmissibility grounds. In exchange, the UK would accept an equal number of asylum seekers currently in France via an online application platform. French officials have initially agreed to take back up to 50 migrants per week—just 2,600 annually, a mere 6 percent of the 44,000 who have crossed since Labour’s election victory.

 

However, British officials anticipate a wave of human rights appeals from migrants selected for removal, citing protections under articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protect against persecution and uphold the right to family life. Moreover, those returned to France would not be detained, raising fears they could simply attempt the crossing again.

 

The UK’s capacity to detain migrants is also limited, with just 2,200 spaces available in immigration removal centres, though the government plans to expand this by 1,000. A new maritime agreement had been expected to be finalised at the summit, enabling French officers to intercept boats at sea. However, Macron confirmed the protocol was still under review. “It aims to better share our information, to better fight against smuggling gangs and act by narrowly integrating our maritime activities,” he said.

 

Sir Keir used the press conference to take a swipe at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, saying, “Whilst we have been working hard to get the returns agreement, others have been simply taking pictures of the problem.” Farage had spent the day filming Channel crossings and later called the agreement “a humiliation for Brexit Britain,” accusing the UK of bowing to Macron’s demands.

 

Meanwhile, Conservative opposition figures sharply criticised Labour’s approach. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said, “Starmer’s first move in power was to rip up the Illegal Migration Act, scrap the Rwanda deterrent plan, weaken age checks and reopen the path to citizenship for illegal migrants. This is a green light to people smugglers.” He claimed returning 50 migrants a week was inadequate, adding, “The Conservatives would restore the Rwanda plan… We’ve had enough of Starmer’s weak and ineffective gimmicks.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Daily Telegraph  2025-07-12

 

 

Regaining Sovereignty is about not relying on the EU. Now the EU (specifically France) is to blame. 

Britain has the royal navy and its Sovereignty to do whatever it needs to do.

59 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Regaining Sovereignty is about not relying on the EU. Now the EU (specifically France) is to blame. 

Britain has the royal navy and its Sovereignty to do whatever it needs to do.

Off you go then.

 

Though to be honest it doesn’t seem to have worked so far.

The problem is migrants will continue to flood Europe because the EU allows it AND continues to provide free handouts instead of supporting their own citizens.  Much like the liberal left in the US. Thankfully President Trump is putting policies in place to stop the madness. Standing by for the expected criticism from the AN leftist members 🧐

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

Sir Keir used the press conference to take a swipe at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, saying, “Whilst we have been working hard to get the returns agreement

 

This returns agreement ?
 

Quote

The EU has said it will assess Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron’s migrant return deal to see whether it is compatible “with the spirit and the letter of the law”.

 

As 10 EU Countries have already written to the EU Commission, opposing the agreement, I will be surprised if the EU ratifies it.

 

And if it does, you can bet your house that the UK is being shafted.

 

And then there is this

 

 

Hermer and Starmer straight on the phone to their gang of Human Rights Parasites as soon as Macron left Downing Street.

Macron ist right.

The most stupid British decision in this century 

7 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Macron ist right.

The most stupid British decision in this century 

 

Macron is wrong.

 

I'll just point out the Sangatte Camps from the late 90 through 2010

 

Whilst the UK was part of the EU.

 

The blame falls squarely on the shoulders of Mutti Merkel with her " Come one come all " followed up by " Come on Europe, we can do this "

 

It started in 2015 under Merkel, a year before the Brexit vote.

7 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

Macron is wrong.

 

I'll just point out the Sangatte Camps from the late 90 through 2010

 

Whilst the UK was part of the EU.

 

The blame falls squarely on the shoulders of Mutti Merkel with her " Come one come all " followed up by " Come on Europe, we can do this "

 

It started in 2015 under Merkel, a year before the Brexit vote.

It’s always somebody else fault.

 

French vagina.

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It’s always somebody else fault.

 

 

Anything in my comment that you want to try and refute or claim as fake news ?
 

Or are you just in the mood to open your mouth and let your belly rumble.

 

BDS ( Brexit Deranged Syndrome ) Is now a recognized medical condition.

 

Treatment consists of a course of man up tablets and therapy to guide you through how to put petted lips away, followed by another week of standing still to negate the urge to stamp feet.

 

Frre on the NHS, if you qualify for UK freebies.

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Macron Blames Brexit for Channel Migrant Surge as UK-French Deal Faces Turmoil

 

French President Emmanuel Macron has directly blamed Brexit for the worsening migrant crisis in the English Channel, claiming the British public was “sold a lie” and that leaving the EU has made illegal immigration harder to combat. His comments came as up to 600 migrants crossed the Channel in small boats on the same day that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced a new “one in, one out” migration deal with France.

 

 

Speaking at a joint press conference with Starmer in Paris, Macron said, “The British people had been sold a lie that leaving the EU would make it possible to fight more effectively against illegal immigration.” He insisted that migration issues require “cooperation, a European approach,” rather than the isolated promises of “populists.” Pointing out that the UK now has “no migratory deal” with the EU, Macron warned that this “creates an incentive to make the crossing, the precise opposite of what Brexit had promised.”

 

 

The French president also recalled how road and rail migration routes had been effectively sealed prior to Brexit. “Let’s recall a few years ago, it was the subject of daily comments. We managed to fully close off these routes,” he said.

 

The UK has seen an alarming rise in small-boat crossings since leaving the EU, growing from 1,843 in 2019 to 45,774 in 2022. So far this year, a record 21,117 migrants have reached the UK—a 50 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

 

Despite Macron acknowledging that the newly announced return deal has yet to be formally agreed with the EU and will likely face legal hurdles, Starmer insisted it would take effect within weeks. He described it as a deterrent to people smugglers. “The purpose of that is a pilot to break the model and therefore obviously the numbers, if successful, will ramp up,” Starmer said.

 

Under the proposed scheme, small-boat migrants arriving from France would be denied asylum, detained, and returned to France under inadmissibility grounds. In exchange, the UK would accept an equal number of asylum seekers currently in France via an online application platform. French officials have initially agreed to take back up to 50 migrants per week—just 2,600 annually, a mere 6 percent of the 44,000 who have crossed since Labour’s election victory.

 

However, British officials anticipate a wave of human rights appeals from migrants selected for removal, citing protections under articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which protect against persecution and uphold the right to family life. Moreover, those returned to France would not be detained, raising fears they could simply attempt the crossing again.

 

The UK’s capacity to detain migrants is also limited, with just 2,200 spaces available in immigration removal centres, though the government plans to expand this by 1,000. A new maritime agreement had been expected to be finalised at the summit, enabling French officers to intercept boats at sea. However, Macron confirmed the protocol was still under review. “It aims to better share our information, to better fight against smuggling gangs and act by narrowly integrating our maritime activities,” he said.

 

Sir Keir used the press conference to take a swipe at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, saying, “Whilst we have been working hard to get the returns agreement, others have been simply taking pictures of the problem.” Farage had spent the day filming Channel crossings and later called the agreement “a humiliation for Brexit Britain,” accusing the UK of bowing to Macron’s demands.

 

Meanwhile, Conservative opposition figures sharply criticised Labour’s approach. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said, “Starmer’s first move in power was to rip up the Illegal Migration Act, scrap the Rwanda deterrent plan, weaken age checks and reopen the path to citizenship for illegal migrants. This is a green light to people smugglers.” He claimed returning 50 migrants a week was inadequate, adding, “The Conservatives would restore the Rwanda plan… We’ve had enough of Starmer’s weak and ineffective gimmicks.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Daily Telegraph  2025-07-12

 

 

be, France don't care about the crossings, it get rid of them, save france money and puts the burden on the UK.

 

Should get the Rwanda flights back up n running, 

23 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

Anything in my comment that you want to try and refute or claim as fake news ?
 

Or are you just in the mood to open your mouth and let your belly rumble.

 

BDS ( Brexit Deranged Syndrome ) Is now a recognized medical condition.

 

Treatment consists of a course of man up tablets and therapy to guide you through how to put petted lips away, followed by another week of standing still to negate the urge to stamp feet.

 

Frre on the NHS, if you qualify for UK freebies.

I didn’t say it was fake news.

 

I said ‘It’s always somebody else fault’.

 

And off you on another of your customary ad hominem.

 

 

24 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

be, France don't care about the crossings, it get rid of them, save france money and puts the burden on the UK.

 

Should get the Rwanda flights back up n running, 

The Rwanda scam, over £700,000,000 pushed away to deport 4 people who volunteered to be deported.

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

I said ‘It’s always somebody else fault’.

 

So did Macron in the OP

 

He was wrong, and I pointed why he was wrong.

 

Do you wish to refute any of the points that I made, saying Macron was wrong ?
 

Now is your chance to show us your intellectual superiority or show us your mentalism.

 

Up to you, as some say in Thailand.

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The Rwanda scam, over £700,000,000

 

Over £700 million wasted by Starmer, by cancelling it, instead of running it  for a 1 year trial, to gauge the deterrent effect.

 

Mentalism yet again.

19 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The Rwanda scam, over £700,000,000 pushed away to deport 4 people who volunteered to be deported.

Was it not hampered by the human rights activists and do-gooders & opposition?

But squandering tax payers money is the norm, nobody is ever held accountable.

19 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

Over £700 million wasted by Starmer, by cancelling it, instead of running it  for a 1 year trial, to gauge the deterrent effect.

 

Mentalism yet again.

Starmer chose. It to throw more good money after bad.

 

And yet more ad hominem.

23 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

So did Macron in the OP

 

He was wrong, and I pointed why he was wrong.

 

Do you wish to refute any of the points that I made, saying Macron was wrong ?
 

Now is your chance to show us your intellectual superiority or show us your mentalism.

 

Up to you, as some say in Thailand.

Macron is right:

 

“The British people had been sold a lie that leaving the EU would make it possible to fight more effectively against illegal immigration.” He insisted that migration issues require “cooperation, a European approach,” rather than the isolated promises of “populists.” Pointing out that the UK now has “no migratory deal” with the EU, Macron warned that this “creates an incentive to make the crossing, the precise opposite of what Brexit had promised.”

 

All that ‘we want our borders back’.

 

You got them back and couldn’t control them.

A demonstrable Brexit fail.

 

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Macron is right:

 

“The British people had been sold a lie that leaving the EU would make it possible to fight more effectively against illegal immigration.” He insisted that migration issues require “cooperation, a European approach,” rather than the isolated promises of “populists.” Pointing out that the UK now has “no migratory deal” with the EU, Macron warned that this “creates an incentive to make the crossing, the precise opposite of what Brexit had promised.”

 

All that ‘we want our borders back’.

 

You got them back and couldn’t control them.

A demonstrable Brexit fail.

 

Nothing to do with the French sitting back letting tent camps set up and the money men assembling boats and engines on the French beaches then......🤔

5 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Starmer chose. It to throw more good money after bad.

 

And yet more ad hominem.

 

Highlighting mentalism is not an ad hominem. I know the truth can hurt, but that does not make it an ad hominem.

 

Starmer is a mutant, only a mutant would cancel something that has had £700 million pumped into it, without using it to see if it would work.

 

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Macron is right:

 

Macron is wrong, no matter who much you wish it to be so.

 

If he had said that British Politicians were spineless reptiles by not setting up a robust deterrent, he would have been correct and I would have agreed with him.

 

Brexit my arse, as Jim Royle was fond of saying.

Can you provide a source for this comment ?
 

8 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The British people had been sold a lie that leaving the EU would make it possible to fight more effectively against illegal immigration.

 

I don't believe that was the case.

 

The small boats never started landing in the UK until 2018.

 

Therefore if Macron said that, he is talking out of his derrière 

 

 

Take the hand-cuffs off - scrap the ECHR!

Human rights does not equate to immigration entitlement.

Just tow them back out to sea, again and again and ignore the EHRC, NGOs and the other complicit mongrels.
 

In the past the Britain's went all over the world to conquered foreign Countries and have taken whatever they could get, now the people of this Countries rightful coming to Britain. It's just Karma. 

1 hour ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Macron is right:

 

“The British people had been sold a lie that leaving the EU would make it possible to fight more effectively against illegal immigration.” He insisted that migration issues require “cooperation, a European approach,” rather than the isolated promises of “populists.” Pointing out that the UK now has “no migratory deal” with the EU, Macron warned that this “creates an incentive to make the crossing, the precise opposite of what Brexit had promised.”

 

All that ‘we want our borders back’.

 

You got them back and couldn’t control them.

A demonstrable Brexit fail.

 

Because France willingly allow the boats to cross and the UK are too weak to act properly.

UK politicians dont have any back bone, theyre weak and pander to outside influence

UK needs a Trump style immigration policy when illegal crossings are down 99%

 

4 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

Because France willingly allow the boats to cross

 

And why wouldn't they?

 

In the absence of any agreement with the EU, another Brexit bonus (Dublin Regulation III)........Why would the French stop them and make it their problem rather than the UK's

It is fairly simple about the money.

 

I pay you in arrears to do the job.

 

If you don't, can't or won't do the job, then why should I pay you?

8 minutes ago, Will B Good said:

 

And why wouldn't they?

 

In the absence of any agreement with the EU, another Brexit bonus (Dublin Regulation III)........Why would the French stop them and make it their problem rather than the UK's

Imagine the shoe was on the other foot and the roles were reversed. All these Brexiters would be saying "bring the boat people back to the UK, it shouldn't be France's problem!".

Right?

The hypocrisy never ceases to amaze me.
 

2 minutes ago, josephbloggs said:

Imagine the shoe was on the other foot and the roles were reversed. All these Brexiters would be saying "bring the boat people back to the UK, it shouldn't be France's problem!".

Right?

The hypocrisy never ceases to amaze me.
 

 

 

Too true....555

1 hour ago, UWEB said:

In the past the Britain's went all over the world to conquered foreign Countries and have taken whatever they could get, now the people of this Countries rightful coming to Britain. It's just Karma. 

Not really. The migrants are not coming from countries that were conquered by  the UK.  On the contrary, they come from former Turkish, Italian and French colonial lands.

From 2018 to 2024, citizens of six countries – Iran, Afghanistan, Iraq, Albania, Syria,  have made up 70% of those crossing in small boats.The balance comes from places like Turkey, Egypt, Kuwait, Ethiopia, Yemen, Sudan and Somalia.

 

If you want to play the colonial game, at least  get the countries right. This is just France dumping its  garbage in England.

The UK refuses to block the boats  or to send them back. It is very easy. Put them on a boat and drop them off in France where they came from. And if they won't comply sink their boats in the channel and let them swim back to france.