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Andy Burnham has discussed the small boats crisis with French President Emmanuel Macron, the first world leader he has welcomed to Downing Street since becoming Prime Minister.
The two leaders met at No 10 on Thursday morning after spending the previous evening together at the British Museum alongside the King to mark the special exhibition of the Bayeux Tapestry.
A boost in the number of police officers confronting the “mega dinghies” carrying migrants from France to Britain was announced ahead of their meeting.
“On behalf of everyone here, Mr Le President, can I thank you for your huge personal gesture of goodwill, trust and friendship with Britain in allowing the Bayeux Tapestry to be displayed here,” Mr Burnham told the French president.
Sitting in Downing Street’s pillared room, Mr Burnham said it was “so fitting that it is our nearest neighbour and close friend Emmanuel” who was his first international guest since coming to power.
Mr Burnham added: “It shows what collaboration can achieve, just as we are also showing on Ukraine, on small boats and also on strengthening the UK-EU relationship. So I look forward to discussing those themes further with you today.”
Mr Macron said: “This is a very strong relationship. For me it is extremely important, and I’m here with willingness and a commitment to get closer.”
Ahead of the talks, Mr Burnham said the two countries must “stay one step ahead” of the criminal gangs’ evolving tactics to transport people across the English Channel, and he vowed not to be “complacent” after a fall in the number of small boat arrivals.
While the combined total number of boat crossings over the summer months has dropped to its lowest since 2019, smugglers appear to have started loading more people on to fewer, larger vessels.
No 10 said measures to counter the trend include deploying a surge team of 45 officers to French western beaches in the coming weeks, almost tripling resources in the area.
Downing Street was asked by reporters if the surge team of an extra 45 officers would be enough to deal with the new, larger dinghies being used for the perilous Channel crossing.
A No 10 spokeswoman told reporters: “That is just one part of our expansive efforts to bear down on criminal gangs, adapting to their latest tactics, and it almost triples French resources in that area.”
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