Picture courtesy of AP

 

The UK-French "one-in, one-out" pilot scheme, aimed at reducing small boat Channel crossings, has officially begun. This bold initiative will see illegal migrants arriving in the UK detained and returned to France, while the UK will accept an equal number of pre-screened asylum seekers from France.

 

The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, praised the plan as the fruit of "grown-up diplomacy," claiming it promises genuine results. However, conservatives have criticised the scheme, insisting it will have little impact. The scheme, announced in July by Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, cleared EU legal checks, allowing it to proceed.

 

Under the new rules, migrants crossing the Channel into the UK can be returned to France if their asylum claim is inadmissible. UK law prohibits deporting asylum seekers until their claims are reviewed, but they can be sent to willing safe third countries.

 

Although the government hasn't specified numbers, reports suggest 50 migrants might be returned each week, against a backdrop of over 800 weekly crossings. The pilot is not expected to halt the crossings completely but aims to discourage the perilous journey amid rising numbers this year.

 

As of 30 July, over 25,000 have crossed in 2025, marking a 49% increase compared to the same period in 2024. The government, under pressure to deliver on its promise to tackle people-smuggling gangs, views the scheme as a significant move.

 

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the initiative "groundbreaking," emphasising the need for managed and legal refugee processes. Cooper also announced £100m to fund 300 National Crime Agency officers to combat people smuggling networks.

 

Conversely, Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp argues the plan lacks potency compared to the previous Rwanda scheme, halted by Labour. He claimed the Rwanda strategy would have been far more compelling as a deterrent, reported the BBC.

 

The charity Asylum Matters has voiced strong criticism, asserting the true solution lies in providing safe sanctuary routes. However, the true efficacy of this daring pilot remains uncertain as crossings continue.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-08-05

 

A 'bold border move'. Nonsense. It will achieve nothing.

30 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

A 'bold border move'. Nonsense. It will achieve nothing.

 

Agree. I wish Labour would stop pandering to the Right.

52 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

A 'bold border move'. Nonsense. It will achieve nothing.

 

Absolutely.

Simply swapping same numbers of trouble makers each other?

The most stupid scheme ever heard of.

On 8/5/2025 at 8:50 AM, webfact said:

The UK-French "one-in, one-out" pilot scheme

 

Misinformation.  It is not a one in one out policy otherwise the limit would be set to 5000 per week, not 50 per week. 

 

"As of 30 July, over 25,000 have crossed in 2025, marking a 49% increase compared to the same period in 2024."

 

This is the only growth that Labour can point to, which has surprised absolutely nobody when they abandoned the 3rd country processing option and adopted the smash belly-rub the gangs policy.

1 hour ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 

Agree. I wish Labour would stop pandering to the Right.

 

They are already tanking in the polls.  How much further do you want them to sink?  I thought I detested Labour more than most but you must really hate them if you want them to listen to the people even less than they are.   

 

1 out 17 in.

The hypocrisy and deception of NGOs like Asylum Matters is breathtaking.

2 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

A 'bold border move'. Nonsense. It will achieve nothing.

 

Labour will send more back in one week than the Tories did in 14 years......5555

The only way it's going to work is if all people crossings illegally by boat were returned and a equal number legal immigrants received. But if I understand correctly that won't happen only very few will be returned. 

1 hour ago, James105 said:

 

They are already tanking in the polls.  How much further do you want them to sink?  I thought I detested Labour more than most but you must really hate them if you want them to listen to the people even less than they are.   

 

 

'Stats for Lefties' - excellent!  

2 hours ago, black tabby12345 said:

 

Absolutely.

Simply swapping same numbers of trouble makers each other?

The most stupid scheme ever heard of.

 

It's worse than that

 

For every one that comes in, they will have the automatic right to bring across family members. And it doesn't take the brains of a NASA scientist to work out that that those family members will extend well into double figures.

 

So more 1 out and 20 in.

 

Deal of the Century, if you are a lunatic.

9 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 

'Stats for Lefties' - excellent!  

 

You like attacking the source, for some reason.

 

Lets see you attack the NHS

 

Quote

But new data released by the NHS Business Services Authority under freedom of information laws, reveal that the majority – 59 per cent – of the 1.56 million issued across the UK in the last five years, 920,199 were awarded to asylum seekers.

 

The source is actually irrelevant. The message is the central plank.
 

920,000 asylum seekers in that last 5 years.

 

How did 920k Asylum seekers get NHS freebie cards in the last 5 years ? Where did they come from ?
 

Do you think successive Governments have been suppressing the real numbers of asylum seekers, because they feared a backlash ?
 

Or do you think, none of them can count beyond 10 fingers and 10 toes ?

24 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 

'Stats for Lefties' - excellent!  

 

Its an image taken from BMG research that carried out the survey on 31 July.   Do you have issues with them too?  I'm not sure how many blue haired nose ring wearing double barreled surname obese employees they have so not sure how many are on "your team", but they do seem legit.   

 

Anyway, don't forget to come up for air every now and again.  It cannot be healthy to keep your head buried so far in the sand.  And when the next election comes around try and find a safe space as the shock of what is coming might be a bit much for the ticker if you keep this level of denial up.   

1 minute ago, James105 said:

 

Its an image taken from BMG research that carried out the survey on 31 July.   Do you have issues with them too?  I'm not sure how many blue haired nose ring wearing double barreled surname obese employees they have so not sure how many are on "your team", but they do seem legit.   

 

Anyway, don't forget to come up for air every now and again.  It cannot be healthy to keep your head buried so far in the sand.  And when the next election comes around try and find a safe space as the shock of what is coming might be a bit much for the ticker if you keep this level of denial up.   

I'm not having any issues!  Just enjoyed the "Stats for Lefties" title.

 

There will be plenty of polls and forecasts between now and 2029, so I'm not worried...yet!  Labour are certainly unpopular now, but they're not stupid (not all of them anyway).  The country has to take its medicine now, but will hopefully have fully recovered by the time of the election.  And anyone who thinks Reform's current polling will be replicated at a real election is more stupid than Tommy Robinson!

 

 

There is nothing bold about this scheme

50 out 50 plus relatives in is a cop out. 

More band aid measures from a weak prime minister that has lost the plot. 

So bold is this plan. That migrants are being filmed live, crossing the Channel right now.

 

The migrants are laughing at you Starmer.

 

The gangs are laughing at you Starmer

 

The French are laughing at you Starmer.

11 hours ago, brewsterbudgen said:

 

Agree. I wish Labour would stop pandering to the Right.

 

Do you realize  you’re referring to 90% of the population

It’s already been reported that if any of these Illegal Economic migrants are chosen to be returned by the a British government to France, the so called human rights lawyers will be able to bloke their deportation by loop all's that Starmer missed.

Australia is the only country I am aware of that stopped the boats .Perhaps we should ask their advice ?