Macron state visit live: French president arrives for crunch migration talks with Starmer over ‘one in one out’ deal – UK Times

Emmanuel Macron has arrived at No 10 for crunch talks, as Sir Keir Starmer’s “one in, one out” migration deal hangs in the balance.

On the second day of his state visit to the UK, the French president arrived at Downing Street alongside his wife, Brigitte.

They were greeted warmly by Starmer and his wife, Lady Victoria Starmer.

Macron will sit down with Sir Keir Starmer as the pair discuss striking migration crossing deal.

The UK is pushing for a “one in, one out” deal to send small boat migrants back to the continent, in exchange for the UK accepting asylum seekers in Europe who have a British link.

Their spouses, Mrs Macron and Lady Victoria Starmer, will have tea and a tour of Downing Street together, followed by all four having lunch.

A red carpet was rolled out in front of No 10 as the prime minister prepares to host the French president for lunch.

Emmanuel Macron is expected to arrive in the next few minutes.

Keir Starmer wants a radical new deal with French authorities, as data shows small boats migration is at highest-ever levels – even with 4 in 10 migrants prevented from crossing the Channel.

The French president is due to arrive at Downing Street in the next 15 minutes or so.

Emmanuel Macron will sit down with Sir Keir Starmer as the pair discuss striking migration crossing deal.

The UK is pushing for a “one in, one out” deal to send small boat migrants back to the continent, in exchange for the UK accepting asylum seekers in Europe who have a British link.

It’s day two of the French president’s state visit to the UK.

In the morning, Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron paid a private visit to St George’s Chapel in Windsor – where they are being hosted by the King – to lay flowers on the Tomb of Queen Elizabeth II.

They were then pictured being shown around the Windsor Castle Gardens by the King and Queen.

Macron then visited Imperial College London, to view an AI and Emerging Technology Innovators Exhibition and meet academics and researchers.

At around 1:15pm Macron and Sir Keir Starmer will meet at No 10 for crunch talks on a migration deal.

Their spouses, Mrs Macron and Lady Victoria Starmer, will have tea and a tour of Downing Street together, followed by all four having lunch.

Alongside Downing Street talks, Sir Keir and Mr Macron are also expected to attend a reception with UK and French businesses and an event at the British Museum on Wednesday.

In the evening, the Macrons, joined by The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, will attend a banquet at Guildhall, given by the Lord Mayor and City of London Corporation.

The Lord Mayor and the president will both make speeches following the dinner.

As expected, the prime minister faced some questions on illegal migration during PMQs today.

Sir Keir Starmer has been working with French president Emmanuel Macron – who is in the UK on a state visit – to secure a deal on a “one in one out” system.

However, the deal is still in the balance and crunch talks are scheduled at No 10 this afternoon.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was one MP who raised the topic as he told the Commons: “the country demands that you say to the French president, ‘we will not accept undocumented males across the English Channel’, and that you are not dictated to by an increasingly arrogant, anti-Brexit French president.”

In response to the question, Sir Keir Starmer said: “We are fixing the mess that we inherited. We are working with other countries to ensure that we take the measures necessary to stop people crossing the Channel.”

He added that Farage “has no interest in fixing the problem because he wants to milk it and exploit it”.

The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:

The prime minister has left the door open for a freeze on income tax thresholds, after refusing to rule it out at today’s PMQs.

Asked by Kemi Badenoch whether it is still Labour’s policy to unfreeze the tax thresholds, Sir Keir said: “No prime minister is going to write the budget in advance, but we are absolutely fixed on our fiscal rules”.

It came after the PM unequivocally ruled out increasing income tax, national insurance contributions or VAT.

The Tories seized upon his answers, saying: “The Prime Minister emphatically ruled out any rises in income tax, NI or VAT. But he wouldn’t repeat the promise his chancellor made in the autumn to lift the freeze on income tax thresholds. He also refused to rule out a retirement tax and wealth taxes.”

“The only reasonable conclusion is that a toxic cocktail of Labour tax rises are coming in the autumn budget”, they added.

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:

Nigel Farage struggled to get himself heard because the microphone near him mysteriously appeared to be switched off for his question.

But the Reform UK leader wanted to go back to his favourite topics of Brexit and irregular immigration and demand that the prime minister insists on France taking them back.

Starmer appears to have come up with a new attack line against Mr Farage of arguing that he “wants to break things and pretend that’s how you fix them.”

He added that “sticking two fingers up at your neighbours” is not the best way to get them to agree to things.