Andy Burnham vows to 'scale up' efforts with France to stop small boat crossings

Andy Burnham vows to 'scale up' efforts with France to stop small boat crossings Speaking on Thursday, the new PM praised the cooperation between Britain and France in dealing with the crisis, and claimed it was helping deter people from making the perilous journey across the Channel Andy Burnham has vowed to "scale up" a crackdown on small boats as he welcomed the French President Emmanuel Macron to Downing Street. Speaking on Thursday, the new PM praised the cooperation between Britain and France in dealing with the crisis, and claimed it was helping deter people from making the perilous journey across the Channel. The two leaders met at No 10 on Thursday morning after spending the previous evening together at the British Museum alongside the King to mark the special exhibition of the Bayeux Tapestry. This week data released by the Home Office showed the lowest total crossings since 2019 and the lowest number of people reaching the UK since 2020. There were 7,416 arrivals between June 1 and August 30 - compared to 15,458 over the same period in 2022 and 12,421 in 2022 under the Tories. Speaking in Downing Street’s pillared room, Mr Burnham said it was “so fitting that it is our nearest neighbour and close friend Emmanuel” who was his first international guest since coming to power. He added: “It shows what collaboration can achieve, just as we are also showing on Ukraine, on small boats and also on strengthening the UK-EU relationship. So I look forward to discussing those themes further with you today.” Mr Macron said: “This is a very strong relationship. For me it is extremely important, and I’m here with willingness and a commitment to get closer.” Ahead of the talks, Mr Burnham said the two countries must “stay one step ahead” of the criminal gangs’ evolving tactics to transport people across the English Channel, and he vowed not to be “complacent” after a fall in the number of small boat arrivals. No 10 said measures to counter the trend include deploying a surge team of 45 officers to French western beaches in the coming weeks, almost tripling resources in the area. Speaking after the meeting, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: "The Prime Minister began by thanking President Macron for France's loan of the Bayeux Tapestry, which he said symbolised common bonds between the UK and France, and was a statement of unity in an increasingly divided world. "Turning to small boats, the Prime Minister said the cooperation between both countries was clearly working and operational teams were making headway on driving down numbers and reducing crossings. "It was now vital to ensure that success was scaled up across Europe to deter illegal migration, the leaders agreed.” However, Refugee charity Freedom from Torture said ministers should improve the asylum system instead of supporting policing in France. Head of asylum advocacy Sile Reynolds said: “The number of people crossing the Channel is dropping, but as smugglers adapt, crossings are only becoming more dangerous. “At the most basic level, the Government is failing to protect the lives of vulnerable people seeking safety. UK taxpayers’ money is being spent bolstering police activity in northern France despite accounts of brutal violence against refugees.”