Migrant deportations 'will go ahead', amid reports flight postponed

The Government has insisted that migrant deportations “will go ahead”, after the first flight under the Government’s ‘one in one out’ deal with France reportedly did not go ahead on Monday.

The Times and Telegraph both reported that a small number of migrants were removed from Monday’s flight, after a last-minute legal challenge by charities.

It is now expected that a flight could take off on Tuesday, unless further challenges are filed.

Under the deal, those who arrive in the UK on a small boat will be sent back to France, in exchange for accepting asylum seekers who have a British link, such as family connections.

Justice Minister Alex Davies-Jones said she would not give a “running commentary” on when deportations would occur, claiming this would give people smugglers “exactly what they want”.

She told Times Radio: “I’m not going to comment or give a running commentary on what is happening here.”

Asked when migrants would be returned to France, she said: “These deportations will be happening as soon as possible.”

The first asylum seekers were detained under the scheme in early August.

The Government has been tight-lipped about the number of migrants expected to be returned to France, but there are hopes if it gets off the ground, the deal will act as a major deterrent to those looking to cross the channel.

It is believed that the Home Office had booked a small number of seats on Air France passenger flights for each day this week in preparation for migrant deportations.

Starmer’s scheme appears to be in jeopardy as the possibility of legal challenges remains, a setback for the Government.

The Telegraph reports that the first flight to bring approved asylum seekers to the UK could begin on Saturday.

Davies-Jones declined to answer when asylum seekers could arrive from France.

Asked why she would not comment, she said: “If I was to break down with you exactly a time-by-time, day-by-day movement on our returns policy, then that would be giving these abhorrent people smugglers exactly what they want.

“This would be allowing them to know what the Government is doing when, and they would be able to respond to that. We are not going to be doing them any favours.”

The number of migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the English Channel has topped 30,000 for the year so far.

It is the earliest point in a calendar year at which the 30,000 mark has been passed since data on the crossings was first reported in 2018.