First small boat migrant sent back to France under 'one in one out' agreement

A first migrant has been sent back to France under a new 'one in one out' deal, The Mirror can confirm.

The man, who arrived in the UK by small boat, was returned by plane on Thursday morning. It is a major breakthrough for the Government after a deal was reached with French President Emmanuel Macron in the summer.

Under the agreement asylum seekers who make the dangerous crossing will be deported, while the same number of people with legitimate claims will be allowed in.

READ MORE: Major report names Labour's 'best shot' at taking on Nigel Farage over small boats

READ MORE: Home Secretary voices fury as migrant's deportation to France blocked by court

The removal follows days of frustration after an Eritrean man was granted a temporary reprieve on Tuesday afternoon after a legal challenge. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood vowed to fight against "vexatious, last-minute claims".

She said: "I will robustly defend the British public's priorities in any court. And I will do whatever it takes to secure our border."

It comes as a major reportsuggested Keir Starmer's best shot at taking on Nigel Farage is ramping up the returns deal with France. This could cut small boat crossings by 75% in three years, a new report claims.

Former Labour Home Secretary Charles Clarke called on ministers to consider the "realistic and humanitarian" approach. Polling published today suggests almost half of voters would support up to 50,000 asylum seekers being allowed into the UK under a 'one in, one out deal'.

Initially it is thought to be capped at 50 per week, but this should be scaled up by 10 or 20 times, British Future says. The Home Office says the first returns are imminent, but it was dealt a blow when the High Court issued a temporary block on one of the first planned deportations.

A report by think-tank British Future said: "Making it ten or twenty times bigger, to take up to 50,000 refugees in a controlled way across the Channel, could still have public support if it formed part of a new deal where France would take back those who crossed without permission.

"Our analysis suggests that this is the Prime Minister’s best shot at an approach that really could significantly reduce the number of boats..." It says ex-US President Joe Biden managed to drive illegal crossings from Mexico down by 81% in a year with a similar approach.

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