Illegal migration into the UK has to be stopped – but that’s easier said than done. I asked the Home Secretary about her new Agreement with the French Government regarding this today.

Michael asked “What recent discussions she has had with her French counterpart on illegal cross-channel movements?”

The Home Secretary Suella Braverman replied:  “The Prime Minister and I are committed to reducing dangerous, illegal migration into the UK. That is why I was in Paris today with my French counterpart Gérald Darmanin, to have agreed a new joint strategy and operational plan. It will drive forward out next phase of cooperation and make this route unviable eventually.”

Michael then said:  “I congratulate my Rt Hon Friend on her agreement in Paris today. But my Rt Hon Friend has said herself that this can be no silver bullet, Indeed, there is no silver bullet, as she puts it.

“Given there are so many hundreds of miles of French coastline to be policed, will this agreement be a game-changer?”

The Home Secretary answered:  “As my Hon Friend says, on its own this agreement will not fix the problem, it is important that everyone is clear about that. But I am very proud of the cooperation that the UK and France have led over the recent years, and I do think this deal represents a step change, and a big step forward in our joint challenge.

“For the first time, under this new integrated approach, UK officers will join law enforcement colleagues in France as embedded observers, to share real time information relating to small boats. The deal will include significant investment in intelligence capability and information sharing, that all agencies will use, including the National Crime Agency and Europol. I believe it’s a big step forward, and I encourage everyone here to get behind it.”