France returns an ‘immediate deterrent,’ insists Lammy

DAVID LAMMY has said the UK's migrant returns deal with France serves as an “immediate deterrent” after three asylum seekers were removed from the country under the scheme, as Channel crossings continued.

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The Deputy Prime Minister said the UK Government hoped to see the number of deportations “grow over the coming months and years” as more small boats began making the dangerous journey in the early hours of Friday.

An Eritrean man was deported on a flight from Heathrow to Paris at 6.15am after losing a High Court bid to halt his removal, becoming the second migrant to leave the country under the scheme after an Indian national was sent back on Thursday.

Meanwhile, in northern France, hundreds of migrants embarked on the Channel crossing early yesterday morning.

Speaking to broadcasters, also yesterday morning, Mr Lammy said:

“It has been very important to increase the numbers of people that we are returning to the countries from which they are from, and that’s gone up 14%... I played an important role in that as foreign secretary and that work must continue.