France’s Macron says he and ‘dear Keir’ Starmer will tackle small boats as president admits illegal immigration is a ‘burden’ for both UK and France

Emmanuel Macron today vowed France and Britain will work closely to tackle the Channel small boat crisis – but said the rest of Europe must also help out.

In an historic address to Westminster politicians the French president said that illegal immigration was a ‘burden’ on both countries.

He said he would work with Sir Keir Starmer – who he referred to as ‘dear Keir’ – on preventing people from crossing the Channel.

But he pointed out that those trying to cross to Britain made up a third of all migrants entering the EU’s Shengen free movement area and called for continent–wide moves to stop the flow.

Before his three–day state visit began today the president faced questions over his country’s failure to make a dent in illegal Channel crossings – despite being handed more than three quarters of a billion pounds of British taxpayers’ money.

Arrival numbers are up 56 per cent so far this year compared with the same period in 2024, with 2,599 last week alone.

And a total of 172,255 small–boat migrants have reached Britain since the crisis began in 2018 – entirely under Mr Macron’s presidency – with the vast majority departing from French beaches. Only 4 per cent have been deported.

In a wide-ranging speech he also said that Brexit had been ‘regrettable’, though he respected Britain’s decision to leave.

He also reiterated his desire for a Palestinian state to be recognised, and urged Europe to loosen its ties with both China and the United States. 

In an historic address to Westminster politicians the French president said that illegal immigration was a ‘burden’ on both countries.

Before his three–day state visit began today the president faced questions over his country’s failure to make a dent in illegal Channel crossings – despite being handed more than three quarters of a billion pounds of British taxpayers’ money.

He promised the ‘best ever co–operation’ between France and the UK ‘to fix today what is a burden for our two countries’.

Addressing immigration in front of an audience including Sir Keir and other senior ministers, MPs and Lords: ‘In this unstable world, hope for a better life elsewhere is legitimate. But we cannot allow our countries’ rules for taking in people to be flouted and criminal networks to cynically exploit the hopes of so many individuals with so little respect for human life.

‘France and the UK have a shared responsibility to address irregular migration with humanity, solidarity and fairness.’

Decisions at Thursday’s UK–France summit will ‘respond to our aims for co–operation and tangible results on these major issues’.

He promised the ‘best ever co–operation’ between France and the UK ‘to fix today what is a burden for our two countries’.

Sir Keir Starmer sat alongside his wife Lady Victoria Starmer for Emmanuel Macron’s address to Parliament.

The PM and his wife sat alongside Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey in the front row, as MPs and peers gathered for the French president’s speech.

Senior Cabinet members, including Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Commons Leader Lucy Powell, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Chancellor Rachel Reeves were also present in the first few rows of seats for the speech in Parliament’s Royal Gallery.

Mr Macron paid tribute to the sacrifices of British troops during the First and Second World Wars but said the post–war rules–based order was under threat.

Speaking in Parliament’s Royal Gallery, he said: ‘The French people shall never forget the sacrifices British people made to protect Europe and the world during the two world wars and to uphold, with fierce determination, the promise of our entente cordiale.

‘We shall never forget the support of the asylum your forefathers gave to the Free French forces in the fight against the barbarism of the Nazis.’

He said Sir Winston Churchill’s vision of ‘a world order based on law, justice and respect for territorial integrity’ was ‘today being attacked on a daily basis as we witness direct attacks on our democracies, the return of war on our continent, the resurgence of imperial impulses and the flouting of international rules by destabilising powers’.