UK govt defends France migrant swop deal after court setback

THE UK government this week insisted a migrant swop deal with France would go ahead and vowed to appeal against a court ruling that blocked the deportation of an Eritrean man.

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The High Court in London stalled the deportation for 14 days after lawyers argued the man faced a “real risk of destitution” if he was sent back to France, posing another setback to government plans to stop people from crossing the Channel on small boats.

Charities have warned that the deal struck with Paris earlier this year is likely to face several legal challenges.

The agreement allows Britain to return people arriving on small boats if they are deemed ineligible for asylum, and in return the UK will accept an equal number of migrants from France who apply via an online platform.

Interior minister Shabana Mahmood said last-minute attempts to stop deportations were “intolerable’, after the man won an 11th-hour reprieve this week.