UK Labour's 'one in, one out' migrant scheme tested as Channel crossings rise
Policy to return a fraction of dinghy arrivals to France enters its early phase, with a third return reported and crossings at a yearly high.
Britain's Labour government on Friday began operating its 'one in, one out' migrant scheme, seeking to send back a small proportion of dinghy arrivals across the English Channel to France. The policy is Labour's first major border initiative since Keir Starmer scrapped the Conservatives' Rwanda asylum deal after taking office earlier this year.
Starmer has said the bilateral arrangement with French President Emmanuel Macron would see migrants 'returned to France in short order.' In the latest development, more than 1,000 people crossed the Channel on Friday, even as the government confirmed that a third person had been returned to France under the scheme.
Overall, the number of people who have crossed the Channel by small boat in 2025 rose to 32,103 by Friday, a record for this point in a year, according to government tallies cited by outlets covering the issue. The figure underscores the scale of Channel crossings even as the new policy aims to deter arrivals through returns.
The Daily Mail's latest poll asked readers whether Starmer's 'one in, one out' migrants scheme should be branded a failure. The paper notes that in a previous poll on a separate question—whether Britain should use its military to stop illegal migrants, as suggested by some U.S. commentators—readers responded overwhelmingly in favor, with about 97% of more than 58,000 votes saying 'yes' and roughly 3% saying 'no'. The poll context highlights ongoing public interest in how the government handles migration and border controls.
Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron signed the 'one in, one out' deal in July this year, signaling a push for closer cooperation on returns as part of a broader border-management approach. Officials have described the agreement as a framework for processing a limited number of return requests, tied to the overall goal of reducing the perception of incentives to embark on dangerous sea crossings.
Analysts noted that the early phase of the policy has produced a small number of returns relative to the scale of crossings, indicating the plan's initial reach may be modest. Observers cautioned that the scheme’s effectiveness will hinge on consistent cooperation from France, operational logistics, and longer-term political dynamics in both capitals. While the policy is designed to complement other asylum and border-control measures, it remains to be seen how it will affect future crossings or asylum decisions, and how it will interact with legal challenges, humanitarian considerations, and public opinion.
As the policy unfolds, government officials emphasized that returns would be one component of a broader strategy to manage arrivals and work with European partners on shared responsibilities. The evolving situation will likely keep migration and border policy at the center of national political debate, with updates tied to further crossings, returns, and the results of ongoing negotiations with France and other European Union partners.