Prime Minister Andy Burnham has welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron to Downing Street for high-level discussions focused on migration, defence, Ukraine and the future of cooperation between the UK and European Union.
Macron became Burnham’s first overseas visitor since the prime minister entered Downing Street in July.
The two leaders greeted each other outside Number 10 on Thursday morning, posing for photographs alongside their wives before beginning their bilateral meeting.
UK-France Partnership Takes Centre Stage
Burnham described Macron as Britain’s “nearest neighbour and close friend” and said his visit was a fitting opportunity to demonstrate the value of closer cooperation between the two countries.
The prime minister highlighted joint work on Ukraine, efforts to tackle Channel crossings and the strengthening of the UK’s relationship with the EU as key areas for discussion.
Burnham said collaboration between Britain and France could deliver results on issues that neither country could easily address alone, including the activities of criminal smuggling networks operating across Europe.
‘Mega Dinghies’ Raise Fresh Concerns
The emergence of increasingly large inflatable boats crossing the English Channel is expected to be one of the most difficult issues confronting the two leaders.
A 15-metre vessel carrying a record 230 migrants was spotted heading towards Britain earlier in August, highlighting concerns about the growing capacity of boats being used by people-smuggling gangs.
The development has intensified political pressure on the British government, with the Conservatives arguing that the appearance of larger vessels demonstrates that ministers have failed to deliver on their pledge to “smash the gangs”.
The issue comes despite a sharp fall in the overall number of small boat arrivals this summer compared with the previous year.
Channel Arrivals Down Despite Larger Boats
A total of 16,513 people crossed the Channel in small boats between 1 January and 1 September 2026, according to the figures cited in the report.
That represents a 43% reduction compared with the same period in 2025.
Despite the decline, the number of people being carried on individual boats has increased substantially.
Boats arriving in Britain during the year to 1 September carried an average of 68 people, more than twice the average recorded in 2021.
The increasing overcrowding has raised concerns about the safety of the journeys.
At least 84 people died attempting to cross the Channel in 2024, according to the United Nations.
Small boat crossings have also become the most common way people are detected entering the UK illegally since 2020.
Almost everyone arriving through this route subsequently claims asylum, meaning they can remain in Britain while their applications are assessed under international law.
Eritreans Among Largest Groups Arriving
People from Eritrea represented the largest proportion of small boat arrivals between July 2025 and June 2026, accounting for 18% of the total.
Other major nationalities included people from Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia and Iran.
The figures also show the connection between Channel crossings and human trafficking.
Home Office figures for January to December 2025 identified at least 2,335 people who arrived by small boat as potential victims of human trafficking or other forms of modern slavery.
France Sends More Officers to the Beaches
The British government says France is increasing its efforts to prevent the boats from leaving its coastline.
Downing Street said an additional 45 British police officers were being deployed to French beaches as part of a “surge team” targeting larger boats carrying greater numbers of migrants.
Home Office Minister Anna Turley said the additional officers were part of a wider deployment involving more than 1,000 officers on northern French beaches.
She said French authorities were increasingly carrying out direct interventions in the water to prevent crossings.
Turley said officers had faced significant resistance during some operations, including being confronted with stones and bricks while attempting to stop boats from departing.
Conservatives Question Whether Strategy Is Working
While the government has presented increased UK-France cooperation as an important part of its strategy, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch questioned whether the measures were delivering the desired results.
Badenoch said she supported greater European cooperation but argued that the continued arrival of boats showed the problem remained unresolved.
She also criticised the amount of money Britain has provided to France to assist with border enforcement, arguing that the boats were still reaching the UK despite the spending.
Wider Talks Include Ukraine and Defence
Migration is only one element of the discussions between Burnham and Macron.
The leaders are also expected to address the war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, defence cooperation and Britain’s broader relationship with the European Union.
Macron’s UK visit began primarily as part of events surrounding the Bayeux Tapestry’s loan to the British Museum.
He met King Charles at the museum on Wednesday ahead of the medieval artwork going on public display next week.
The Downing Street meeting therefore gives the French president an opportunity to move beyond the cultural focus of his visit and address some of the most pressing political and security issues facing Britain and France.
