'Promises have come to nothing'...Britain pays Paris £480k a day to halt just 8,300 boats

A MERE 8,300 migrants have been stopped by French police from crossing the Channel despite fears of a record-breaking year for arrivals in Britain, the Express can reveal.

- By Michael Knowles Home Affairs Editor

Critics branded the efforts “pathetic” and warned that the French navy are allowing people to continue their journeys “even after corpses are removed” from dinghies.

Pressure is mounting on Paris after analysis of Home Office figures showed only 8,347 asylum seekers have been prevented from reaching UK waters in small boats.

With 13,167 people crossing over the same time period, it suggests France is intercepting fewer than 40% of people despite Britain agreeing to pay more than £480,000 every day this financial year.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “France is in breach of their international law obligations to stop illegal migration. Stopping under 40% of illegal immigrants attempting to cross is pathetic.

“Even the 40% stopped are simply let go by the French and they just attempt to cross the next day instead.

“The French should do what the Belgians do and forcibly intercept boats at sea near the French shore and return them to France. This would soon stop the crossings - which is in France’s interests too as then the illegal immigrants would not congregate around Calais. Otherwise, every single illegal immigrant who arrives in the UK should be immediately removed to a location outside Europe, for example Rwanda.

“Labour’s claim to smash the gangs lies in tatters, with 37,000 illegal immigrants having arrived since the election and 2025 so far has been the worst year for illegal immigrants. Labour has lost control of our borders.”