Prime Minister Andy Burnham will welcome French President Emmanuel Macron to Downing Street on Thursday, marking the first visit by a foreign head of state since Burnham took office. The meeting is set to address several foreign policy objectives, including efforts to curb irregular migration and secure a new deal with the EU.
On Wednesday, Downing Street announced that the number of French officers addressing small boat crossings in northern France is expected to increase to nearly 1,050, a rise of approximately a quarter in four months. This will include a 75-person team dedicated to seizing equipment and arresting smugglers on land, an expanded intelligence unit, and 45 additional officers for the west coast.
Burnham stated on Wednesday that progress in reducing small boat crossings this summer demonstrates what can be achieved through UK and France collaboration. He emphasised the need for both countries to adapt quickly to evolving smuggling tactics. The Prime Minister also plans to press Macron for support in renegotiating Britain's treaty with the EU, ahead of a postponed EU summit expected in early November.