The Newshound

UK-France 'one in, one out' migrant deal is scrapped after 423 days and £78m spent removing just 1,500 people

From the Newshound archive · first published 1 October 2026.

Migrants pelt French police with rocks as officers slash dinghies on the Channel — the crossings the now-scrapped £78 million "one in, one out" deal returned just 1,500 people to France to deter.
Migrants pelt French police with rocks as officers slash dinghies on the Channel — the crossings the now-scrapped £78 million "one in, one out" deal returned just 1,500 people to France to deter.

Britain's migrant swap arrangement with France will conclude on Thursday, having operated for more than a year at a cost to taxpayers of £78 million — equivalent to £56,000 for each person returned across the Channel. Under the scheme, one asylum seeker could be sent back to France for every one admitted legally to the UK, yet only 1,500 migrants were moved in 423 days, despite the policy being promoted as a deterrent.

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel argued the government has no genuine interest in stopping illegal migration and does not grasp the depth of public fury.

A child was photographed abandoned by his father while floating in the Channel last week, intensifying pressure on Keir Starmer to produce a credible replacement plan.

MoreThe GuardianWhy is the UK-France ‘one in, one out’ migration deal being scrapped?GB NewsLabour threw out the only solution to the migrant crisis. They're simply not interestedBBC News - PoliticsUK-France 'one in, one out' migrant scheme scrapped
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