UK and France extend talks over new small boats deal

This page reports on UK-France negotiations for a new small boats agreement. The UK will pay France £16.2m for beach patrols over two months to intercept migrants attempting to cross the English Channel. Under a 2023 three-year agreement, the UK has already paid France £476m for additional patrols against smuggling gangs. Talks to renew the expiring agreement have been extended by two months as the UK pushes for more enforcement officers. The Conservative opposition criticizes the payment as funding "continued failure," while the Liberal Democrats advocate for international cooperation and large-scale returns agreements to address the immigration crisis effectively.