Labour is facing new questions over its small boats deal with France after it emerged the agreement will expire in just 11 months.
The much-trumpeted deal with Emmanuel Macron’s government will lapse at the end of June next year – just 47 weeks away – unless it is renewed.
The Home Office has also refused to say how many small boat migrants will be returned under the agreement.
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said the ‘meagre’ and ‘short-term’ deal would splutter to a halt even before the start of next year’s peak small boats season.
Migrants who arrive by small boat from Wednesday could face being selected for the scheme.
It means that instead of being sent to taxpayer-funded asylum hotels after arriving in Dover they will instead be placed in detention.
The Home Office would then work with French counterparts to return the migrants as part of the ‘one in, one out’ scheme, which will also see Britain accept other migrants from France with stronger asylum claims.
However, pro-migrant groups have already indicated they are poised to bring legal challenges against Labour’s new scheme – just as they did against the previous Conservative government’s Rwanda asylum deal.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron (both pictured) announced the new returns deal last month after a summit in Westminster but it will lapse in June next year – just 47 weeks away – unless it is renewed
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp (pictured) said the ‘meagre’ and ‘short-term’ deal would splutter to a halt even before the start of next year’s peak small boats season. Migrants who arrive by small boat from Wednesday could face being selected for the scheme
A migrant attempts to board a small boat off the coast of Gravelines, between Calais and Dunkirk, last week
There was no mention of an expiry date for the new treaty – to be ratified tomorrow – when it was first announced by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Macron last month.
It will lapse at the end of June next year, about 10 months before the next French presidential election is due to take place.
Mr Macron cannot run for a third consecutive term, meaning other candidates would have to support the continuation of the Anglo-French deal.
If the treaty had not been time-limited it would have bound the next president to abide by its terms, or seek a renegotiation.
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘Over this period both countries have committed to continually review and improve the process and effectiveness of this innovative approach, pending decisions on the long-term future of the arrangements after June 2026.’
Last month it was suggested the scheme would see 50 migrants a week sent back to France.
At that rate, just 2,350 would be returned before the agreement expires.
By comparison, a record 25,436 migrants have reached Britain by small boat since the start of this year.
Migrants seen heading for Britain from the French coast last week
Small boat migrants arrive at Dover after being picked up by a Border Force catamaran in the Channel last week
The spokesman refused to reveal how many migrants will be targeted for removal, but said the government had ‘an ambition to scale up’ the numbers.
Tonight the PM said: ‘Today we send a clear message – if you come here illegally on a small boat you will face being sent back to France.
‘This is the product of months of grown-up diplomacy delivering real results for British people as we broker deals no government has been able to achieve and strike at the heart of these vile gangs’ business model.
‘The days of gimmicks and broken promises are over – we will restore order to our borders with the seriousness and competence the British people deserve.’
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: ‘This is a short-term arrangement that will only last a few months and will expire before next year’s peak crossing season.
‘This meagre arrangement will be no more effective than the Government’s previous gimmick which was claiming to “smash the gangs”.
‘The Rwanda removals deterrent, under which 100 per cent of illegal arrivals would be removed, was ready to go last summer but Labour cancelled it just days before it was due to start with no proper replacement plan.
‘As a result, this year so far has been the worst ever for illegal immigrants crossing the Channel.’
From Wednesday, any new Channel arrivals will be taken to the Home Office’s processing centre at Manston, near Ramsgate, Kent, and assessed by Border Force officials.
Any selected for the returns scheme will be transferred to short-term immigration holding facilities operated by the Home Office, such as those at Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
After further assessment, including a screening interview, they could be sent to an immigration removal centre to await return to France, likely to take place by chartered aircraft.
Migrants disembark from a Border Force vessel in Dover last week
Detention space has already been set aside for the launch of the scheme.
However, it is likely to face legal challenges – possibly as early as this week.
A spokesman for the charity which helped blocked the Tories’ Rwanda scheme, Care4Calais, said: ‘Care4Calais initiated legal challenges against the last Government’s Rwanda policy and their attempts to introduce “pushbacks” in the Channel – and we won.
‘We will consider all options open to us to oppose any plans that will put more lives at risk and involve Governments trading humans.’
The Home Office spokesman said: ‘Learning the lessons from the lengthy legal challenges affecting the Migration and Economic Development Partnership with Rwanda, the UK government is also prepared to robustly defend any legal challenges to removal within the initial trial phase, as we look to ramp up both the pace and scale of returns over the course of the pilot scheme.’
Migrants in France will be able to apply online to come to Britain and will undergo security checks. Previous attempts at crossing the Channel illegally will bar them from the scheme.
