French President Emmanuel Macron is reportedly urging Sir Keir Starmer to make the UK a less attractive destination for migrants attempting to cross the British Channel, according to a source at the Élysée Palace.

Following his pledge to forge closer Anglo-French cooperation on the crisis, President Macron is said to have presented a three-pronged proposal aimed at easing pressure on both Calais and Dover. Central to this is a call for Britain to clamp down on irregular migrants exploiting the UK’s shadow economy and access to welfare benefits.

In return, Macron is believed to be asking the UK to show greater flexibility in reuniting genuine asylum seekers with family members already on British soil. 

“These causes must also be addressed by the British,” an Élysée insider told The Telegraph.

Speaking at Westminster, Macron underlined the need for a coordinated response to the “clear issue” of irregular migration, and described Brexit as “deeply regrettable”. 

He stressed that France and the UK share a responsibility to approach the challenge “with humanity, solidarity and fairness”.

While Downing Street has yet to formally respond, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper recently announced measures aimed at curbing illegal employment among asylum seekers. Still, the renewed push for a bilateral accord comes just days after reports revealed that 44,000 people had crossed the Channel during Starmer’s first year in office — a 40 per cent increase on the previous year under Rishi Sunak.

Despite speculation that Paris is pinning the blame on London, senior French officials have denied any such narrative. 

“The French President looks forward to working constructively with the Prime Minister on this shared priority,” one source said.

Source: GB News

Photo: @PaulSmi78490476

Tomasz Modrzejewski