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Downing Street talks
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham hosted French President Emmanuel Macron at Downing Street for his first meeting with a world leader since taking office, with both leaders discussing strengthening UK-EU relations, supporting Ukraine, and tackling Channel crossings.
“Smuggling gangs are constantly adapting their tactics, and the UK and France need to respond quickly”
Downing Street said a surge team of 45 extra officers would be deployed to western French beaches to counter smuggling gangs using larger vessels to transport migrants, while total police resources targeting illegal Channel crossings in northern France increased to nearly 1,050 personnel alongside an expanded intelligence unit.
The talks followed a joint visit to the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition, and the leaders also held discussions on stopping migrant crossings and rebuilding relations between the UK and European Union.
Burnham warned that smugglers were adapting their tactics, saying in a statement released before the meeting that "Smuggling gangs are constantly adapting their tactics, and the UK and France need to respond quickly," and he told journalists late Wednesday that "people here are fed up with the vision" after Brexit.
Macron acknowledged the two countries "do not always see eye to eye" but stressed mutual respect and a willingness to discuss advancing the UK’s relationship with the European Union.
Bayeux Tapestry backdrop
On Sept 2, French President Emmanuel Macron and King Charles III hailed their countries’ ties after previewing the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition in London, as France’s leader kicked off a two-day visit to Britain.
The work depicting the 1066 Norman conquest of England had not left France since it was completed nearly 1,000 years ago, and it will be on display until July 2027, with Macron saying he hoped future generations would recall "the tale of two countries which, after centuries of shared history, chose to forge a bond as close as the threads of this thousand-year-old embroidery".
King Charles lauded the loan as "a precious symbol of trust at a time when trust seems sadly to be in short supply between nations," and the preview event at the British Museum involved Macron, Burnham, and their wives.
The Straits Times also reported that Burnham, who replaced Keir Starmer on July 20, would hold talks on Sept 3 in Downing Street, when Macron would become the first European Union leader Burnham has hosted there.
Ahead of the visit, Kings College London politics professor Anand Menon warned there was a danger it would be "style without substance," telling AFP that progress on EU negotiations was needed.
Migration, Ukraine, and EU
As Burnham prepared to host Macron at No 10, the agenda included stopping migrant crossings, supporting Ukraine, and rebuilding relations between the UK and European Union.
“Over 48,000 crossing attempts have been prevented”
Downing Street said the measures to counter the trend included deploying a surge team of 45 officers to French western beaches, while a specialist French intelligence and judicial team seeking to root out and prosecute smuggling networks grew from 18 to 30 officers and a new 75-strong unit focused on curbing crossings began operations in northern France.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the UK was boosting officer numbers to record highs to crack down on small boat launches and the gangs behind them, adding that "Over 48,000 crossing attempts have been prevented" and that small boat crossing numbers were down.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression, and the Independent reported that the two leaders discussed supporting Ukraine as well as tackling Channel crossings.
The talks were also expected to include “new initiatives” in the Middle East, while Burnham’s office said efforts to prevent migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats would top the agenda.