How Starmer's Migrant Deal With France Was Originally The Brainchild Of, Er, Robert Jenrick

Conservative leadership candidate Robert Jenrick addresses members during the Conservative Party Conference at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham, England, Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024.(AP Photo/Kin Cheung)Keir Starmer yesterday hailed the “groundbreaking” migrant returns deal he has struck with French president Emmanuel Macron.The agreement will see France initially accept a small number of asylum seekers who have made their way to the UK in small boats across the English Channel.In return, Britain has agreed to take the same number of migrants who have had their asylum claims processed in France.Starmer hopes the prospect of being sent back across the Channel will deter migrants from getting into small boats and trying to make the perilous journey to Dover.“There is no silver bullet here, but with a united effort, new tactics and a new level of intent, we can finally turn the tables,” the PM said at a press conference alongside Macron.But it has emerged that the “one in one out” scheme was originally suggested by none other than Robert Jenrick more than two years ago.Jenrick, who was immigration minister at the time, sent out his idea in a memo to then-prime minister Rishi Sunak ahead of a summit with Macron. Once again, the subject of how to “stop the boats” was on the agenda.He said: “We should be willing to make highly meaningful concessions such as offering to take one asylum seeker that has been successfully granted asylum in the French system in return for one illegal migrant that we return to them.“Or indeed more than one. It is highly probable that the certainty of return to France would quickly break the business model of the smugglers.”Sunak did not follow his minister’s advice, instead agreeing to pay France around £500 million to improve its patrols and stop the boats from setting off in the first place.With record numbers continuing to cross the Channel, it is safe to say that agreement was a failure.Starmer will hope that his own agreement with Macron will prove to be more successful than his predecessors. If it is, he may have cause to thank Robert Jenrick.Related...Emmanuel Macron Blames Brexiteers For Small Boats Crisis After Striking Migrant Deal With StarmerWhat Is Expected To Be In Starmer And Macron's 'One-In, One-Out' Migrant Deal?Emmanuel Macron Takes Aim At Brexit And Tells UK: 'You Were Stronger With The European Union'

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