A migrant booted back to France under Labour’s so-called “one-in, one-out” border deal has cheekily sneaked right back into the UK by small boat, delivering a hammer blow to Sir Keir Starmer’s immigration claims.
Migrant Risks Life to Flee France and Return to UK
The man, seeking asylum in Britain, told The Guardian that France was no safe shelter. After being deported under the UK-France border pact, he says he fell prey to violent smugglers and modern slavery in northern France.
Speaking from a UK detention centre, he blasted: “If I had felt that France was safe for me I would never have returned to the UK.”
He added: “When we got back to France, we were dumped in a shelter in Paris. I didn’t dare leave because I feared for my life. The smugglers are very dangerous.”
The migrant described armed gangs forcing him into forced labour under brutal threats. “They treated me like rubbish, abused me, and warned I’d be killed if I complained,” he revealed.
“One-in, One-Out” Scheme in Tatters as Migrants Slip Back
Home Office insiders admit at least one deportee under the deal is back locked up in a UK detention centre, shredding government boasts that the policy would slam the brakes on Channel crossings.
The Centre for Migration Control slammed the agreement as “in chaos.”
“It’s failed to deter anyone. Migrants now know they can just give it another go,” said their Director. “Instead of stopping crossings, this scheme feeds smugglers’ profits.”
Since launching in August, more than 10,000 migrants have crossed the Channel, but just 42 have been sent back to France. That’s a staggering 238 crossings for every one deportation.
Chilling Stories from France’s Migrant Camps
Human rights campaigners have heard numerous horror tales from returned migrants. Maddie Harris, Director of the Human Rights Network, revealed forced labour, beatings, sexual abuse, and traffickers forcing migrants to steer boats in northern France.
“People sent back say they don’t feel safe,” Harris warned.
The notorious camps around Calais and Dunkirk remain controlled by violent gangs, raising serious doubts about the safety of Britain’s deportation partner.
Starmer’s Immigration Plan Slammed by Nigel Farage
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage tore into the fiasco as a “total abject failure.”
“Keir Starmer’s one-in, one-out policy is a joke. The illegals are laughing at us,” he said.
The glaring faults of Labour’s plan:
- France is still unsafe: Violent gangs run migrant camps
- Zero deterrent: Deportees simply try again
- Few returns: France accepts only selected cases
- Easy re-entry: Deportees slip past French controls
- Smugglers profit big: Multiple crossings boost gang earnings
Unlike the scrapped Tory Rwanda scheme, which physically barred return by sending asylum seekers far away, the France deal is a revolving door. Deportees can be back on UK soil in days.
Worse still, allegations of modern slavery in France expose Britain to legal and moral risks by sending vulnerable people into harm’s way.
What’s Next for the Deported Migrant?
The man is currently detained, awaiting decisions that could include:
- Immediate return to France (unlikely due to slavery claims)
- Full UK asylum process (which could torpedo the deportation plan)
- Lengthy legal battles delaying removal
None bode well for Starmer’s flagship immigration scheme.
With people smugglers grinning all the way to the bank and political fallout growing, the “one-in, one-out” deal is shaping up as Labour’s biggest border blunder yet.
