BRITISH taxpayers will fork out a further £16 million to extend a highly criticised deal to fund French migrant patrols.
Home Secretary is holding out for a better deal, which could include incentives for French cops to stop more attempted crossings.
The Home Secretary wants better value for money for taxpayers from the France dealCredit: Ioannis Alexopoulos/LNP
An extension has been agreed by Shabana Mahmood while negotiations continueCredit: Getty
Figures show only a third of boats are stopped by across the Channel despite the £475 million agreement signed by in 2023.
The current three-year deal expires tonight with negotiators failing to reach a new agreement in time – instead agreeing on an interim solution.
A source close to Ms Mahmood said: “The Home Secretary is driving a hard bargain with the French to deliver the best deal for the British people to prevent illegal migrants crossing the channel. Essentially getting more bang for our buck.”
The temporary extension averts any potential rush of migrants who could hope to take advantage of any drop in policing levels to get to the UK.
Talks went down to the wire this week and will now continue for the next two months in a bid to get a better deal for taxpayers
The new agreement is worth £650 million with French cops believed to be demanding Brits pay for new barracks for riot police and the salaries of staff at a new detention centre.
Around 700 officers are currently employed to police the coastline, but often boats take off from beaches while cops look on.
So far only three boats have been intercepted at sea by French authorities despite a change in allowing them to start doing so.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “Our work with has stopped 42,000 attempts by illegal migrants to make the journey across the Channel.
“While we finalise a new and improved UK-France deal, French law enforcement operations to stop illegal migrants in France will continue.
“I will do whatever it takes to restore order and control at our borders.”
So far this year 4,441 people have arrived in the UK in small boats with many more expected over the Easter weekend as calm seas look likely.
MP, Shadow Home Secretary, criticised the Government for failing to secure a new deal, saying: “Labour don’t have the backbone to get a deal over the line.
“They are now going to pay £2 million a week for continued failure.
“We shouldn’t pay the French a penny until they agree to substantially increase their prevention rate and start intercepting at sea by force – as they promised last summer.”
He added: “Starmer has now presided over the most Channel crossings of any Prime Minister – up 45% since the election. His absurd claim to ‘smash the gangs’ lies in tatters.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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