France plays down ‘one-in one-out’ migrant returns deal with Britain saying ‘only a few individuals’ would arrive

FRANCE last night played down the one-in one-out returns deal with Britain saying “only a few individuals” would arrive there.

Sir Keir Starmer was warned that efforts to tackle the small boats Channel crisis already appear in trouble with the pilot scheme set to kick off this week.

A source at the Interior Ministry added: “We may terminate the agreement if we do not find it satisfactory.”

They then highlighted “the still very experimental nature of this deal”.

Commercial Air France jets will be used for removals from the UK with the first designated planes carrying small boat migrants are expected to take off this week.

Formal removal notices have been issued to asylum seekers stating they will be deported within five days – but there are fears legal challenges will be brought.

Under the deal, the same number of asylum seekers who are in France who pass eligibility checks will be allowed in the UK.

When the deal was announced in July, it was suggested that 50 migrants a week would be sent back under the pilot scheme.

However, since the deal came into operation in August more than 5,000 have made the perilous journey from France.

Meanwhile, new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood blasted the Tories for doing “sod all” to tackle illegal immigration while in government.

She hit out at successive administrations failing to get to grips with the issue including Channel small boat crossings in a heated Commons exchange.

The Cabinet Minister was accused of “tinkering around the edges” by her opposite number Chris Philp over possible reform to the European Convention on Human Rights, which is being used to stay here.

She blasted: “We have a proper plan to look at legislative reform.

“But frankly tinkering at the edges would have been fantastic under them because actually their own track record is they did frankly nothing, sod all, sod all in 14 years.”

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