France and the UK have agreed a “one in, one out” deal in which Britain will return migrants across the channel but take others in return.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the new agreement alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, who is on a state visit to the UK.
Mr Starmer hopes the deal will begin to tackle the politically charged problem of small boats by taking in qualifying migrants with family ties in the UK.
More than 21,000 people have arrived in the UK after crossing the English Channel so far this year, which is a record for this point in the year since data collection began in 2018.
As the two leaders were finalising the deal, images show people wearing life jackets arriving in Dover, Kent disembarking from a Border Force boat amid sunny weather on Thursday.
Announcing what he called a “historic” agreement on a “ground-breaking” returns scheme, Mr Starmer explained that migrants arriving through small boats will be “detained and returned to France in short order”.
“In exchange for every return, a different individual will be allowed to come here via a safe route, controlled and legal, subject to strict security checks and only open to those who have not tried to enter the UK illegally,” he said.
“This will show others trying to make the same journey that it will be in vain, and the jobs they have been promised in the UK will no longer exist because of the nationwide crackdown we’re delivering on illegal working which is on a completely unprecedented scale.”
Mr Starmer said the UK was signalling a “new level of intent to tackle illegal migration and break the business model of the criminal gangs”.
“For us, it’s about delivering the changes that the British people want to see, and we will agree the situation in the Channel cannot go on as it is,” he said.
Mr Starmer said this pilot programme will be implemented in the coming weeks but also stressed the UK should continue to accept asylum seekers.
“We accept genuine asylum seekers because it is right that we offer a haven to those in most dire need,” he said.
The deal comes in the wake of an agreement by France to bring in new rules of engagement that would allow its police to board small boats up to 300 metres from the coast to stop them from reaching Britain.
Sunder Katwala, of British Future, a think tank, said the deal was a promising breakthrough on migrant route co-operation. “Getting that right could determine whether the government succeeds or fails on Channel crossings,” he said.
But Steve Smith, CEO of refugee charity Care4Calais said the agreement was “a grubby deal between two Governments that trades human lives”.
“A deal that will likely be expensive, will make life harder for people who seek safety in the UK, but ultimately will do nothing to tackle the root cause of Channel crossings – a lack of safe routes,” he said.
Mr Smith said the deal could become the Labour government’s equivalent of the failed Rwanda scheme.
Under the scheme, put forward by the previous Conservative government, all migrants who arrived in small boats would be sent to the African country to have asylum claims processed.
“In opposition, Keir Starmer railed against Tory gimmicks. Now he’s creating his own,” said Mr Smith.
The five pillars of Islam
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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Capital: Kiev
Population: 44.13 million
Armed conflict in Donbass
Russia-backed fighters control territory
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
“If it’s a rental property, plan for the property to have periods when it does not have a tenant. Ensure you have enough cash set aside to pay the mortgage and other costs during these periods, ideally at least six months,” she says.
Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
