POLL: Will Keir Starmer's 'one in, one out' deal stop the boats?

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's new immigration scheme will allows Britain to return small boat arrivals to France, provided the UK accepts the same number of vetted asylum seekers with connections to Britain - but will it work? Dubbed the "one in, one out" plan, the pilot agreement was signed with President Emmanuel Macron during the French state visit last month.

Under the deal, up to 50 people a week who arrive illegally via the Channel could be returned to France. In exchange, the UK will admit 50 legal migrants under a new humanitarian route. The Government says the plan is a "realistic, workable" way to tackle dangerous crossings, in contrast to the previous Rwanda scheme, which was scrapped due to legal and logistical setbacks.

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The new policy comes as the number of small boat crossings so far this year has exceeded 25,000, putting 2025 on track to set a new annual record. Immigration remains one of the top issues for UK voters.

Critics, however, claim the numbers involved in the deal are too small to have a meaningful impact - especially given that over 800 people are arriving each week.

Refugee charities have also raised concerns about fairness, legality, and the lack of safe, open routes.

The Government says if the pilot is successful, the agreement could be expanded.