Almost two-thirds of all money spent by the French Government on illegal migrant patrols comes from British taxpayers, it has been revealed.
Laurent Touvet, the head of the French Directorate General for Foreigners (DGEF), unveiled the funding figures during a Paris parliamentary committee meeting.
He disclosed that Britain had forked out £155million out of the total £250million spent in northern France tackling the small boat crisis and migrants being smuggled into the UK via vehicles.
The funding goes towards patrols, boat destruction, drone surveillance and camp policing.
The committee – established earlier this year to review cooperation between Paris and London on the migrant crisis – was told the British Government had financed 62 per cent on the patrols.
Mr Touvet said: “It is estimated that the United Kingdom’s contribution to the fight against illegal immigration is around 62 per cent of the total, with 38 per cent being France’s responsibility.”
Since 2018, Britain has handed over more than £700million to France to stop the boats.
The latest £155million figure stems from a three-year agreement signed by Emmanuel Macron and Rishi Sunak in March 2023.
Two-thirds of all money spent by France on illegal migrant patrols comes from British taxpayers
|
GETTY
The deal was struck in a bid to ease the numbers of migrants pouring into Britain, however, more than 107,000 have crossed the Channel since it came into effect.
The current agreement expires next month, with Sir Keir Starmer expected to approve fresh payments to Paris for another three years.
The Prime Minister has also come under fire over his “one-in, one-out” deal with France after fresh Home Office figures laid bare its shortcomings on Thursday.
According to the data, Britain has sent back just 377 illegal migrants since the agreement was reached in July 2025.
MIGRANT CRISIS – READ THE LATEST:
Sir Keir is expected to approve fresh payments to Paris for another three years
|
GETTY
Meanwhile, France has sent 380 asylum seekers the other way under the terms of the deal.
Paris has also failed to deploy new police tactics agreed at last year’s UK-France summit, which would see French authorities given the green light to intercept migrant boats in the Channel.
More than 3,400 illegal migrants have broken into Britain via small boat so far this year.
In March alone, more than 1,200 have made the trip across the Channel – an average of over 100 every day so far this month.
More than 3,400 illegal migrants have broken into Britain via small boat so far this year
|
GETTY
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said Labour’s “promises” to fix the migrant crisis “lie in tatters”.
“The gangs have not been smashed, the French are not intercepting boats near the French shore and the one in, one out deal certainly isn’t working.”
Last month, Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said “the French are laughing at us” over the current agreement.
He said: “Tory and Labour Governments have handed France £700million of taxpayer money to stop the boats full of illegals.
“Yet they are coming in record numbers. Almost 200,000 in eight years.”
The Home Office has defended the partnership, insisting cooperation with France is delivering results.
“Joint operations have helped block 40,000 crossings under this Government,” a spokesman said.
