UK Government Ends 'One In, One Out' Migrant Agreement With France

The UK government has confirmed it has ended the 'one in, one out' arrangement with France, a mechanism designed to facilitate the return of individuals who had crossed the Channel irregularly. The scheme, in operation for just over a year, had resulted in the removal of roughly 1,500 people to French territory.

This unilateral decision follows persistent domestic pressure on the Conservative government over its handling of Channel crossings. While official statements frame the termination as an evolution of cooperation, critics point to the lack of a clear replacement mechanism and the potential for increased friction with Paris.

The policy's abandonment underscores the transactional nature of UK-France relations concerning migration, often reducing complex human movement to a numerical exchange. Both nations continue to grapple with their respective obligations and security interests, with the underlying drivers of migration largely unaddressed by such bilateral agreements.