UK-France talks tackle migrant boats, EU ties

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and French President Emmanuel Macron held their first official talks at Downing Street on Thursday, discussing Channel migrant crossings, relations between Britain and the European Union, Ukraine and the Middle East.

A UK government account said the leaders discussed the UK's drive to get closer to Europe. Burnham has said Britain should be “bolder” in moving closer to the EU, while keeping his predecessor Keir Starmer's rejection of rejoining the bloc's single market or customs union and returning to EU freedom of movement rules.

Burnham also raised concerns that the EU's Made in Europe agenda could pose significant challenges for British industry, according to a UK government spokesperson. The agenda seeks to protect steel industries inside the 27-nation bloc, and the issue has raised concern for Britain's steel sector.

The leaders discussed the “emerging use of mega dinghies”, described by Downing Street as larger, more powerful boats used to bring undocumented migrants and asylum seekers to England's south coast. Downing Street said a “surge team” of 45 French officers would be deployed on beaches in coming weeks to tackle such launches.

Burnham told Macron that the two countries were “making headway on driving down numbers and reducing crossings”. The UK government said Monday that this summer saw the lowest number of small boats carrying migrants and asylum seekers across the Channel since 2019. According to the UK statement, the leaders agreed it was vital to scale up that success across Europe to deter illegal migration.

Ukraine was also part of the talks. Burnham has committed to maintaining Britain's support for Kyiv, and Macron praised the UK's release to Ukraine of information on components for SCALP missiles, the French-produced version of the UK's Storm Shadow. Downing Street said the pair discussed next steps on establishing local assembly lines in Ukraine for SCALP and efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Macron is the first European Union leader hosted at Downing Street by Burnham, who has been in office since July 20. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited in July.

The meeting followed a Wednesday event at the British Museum, where Burnham, Macron, King Charles III and Queen Camilla previewed the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition. The 11th-century work, loaned by France, arrived in London in July and is due to be shown until July 2027.