Sunak seeks migrant deal with Macron to curb Channel crossings

Rishi Sunak wants a new cross-Channel deal with France to tackle migrant boats crossing the strait, which will include targets on how many boats are stopped from reaching the UK, The Times has revealed. According to Government sources, Ministers and officials are set to examine a draft deal that is close to being signed with France in order to make it “more ambitious.”They are particularly keen to ensure that there is a solid agreement that there will be a set number of French officers patrolling the beaches at any one time.Home Office staff are also due to be set targets to process 80 percent of asylum claims within six months.It has revealed that the average case took 480 days to resolve.Bonuses could also be awarded to staff if they met specific targets, for example, if a caseworker completes four asylum claims a week, which would be more than double the current rate. Rishi Sunak leaving Downing Street for PMQs on Wednesday (Image: Getty Images )Sweden and Italy swung heavily to the Right with severe concerns about migration being a key motivator.Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir should pay attention.We’re all sick of being told Britain should turn a blind eye to boatloads of primarily male economic migrants arriving here.- Darren Grimes (@darrengrimes_) October 26, 2022 There have also been plans drawn up by Home Office officials to restrict the definition of who can qualify for asylum in order to reduce numbers of successful applicants.This was one part of Mr Sunak’s ten-point plan to tackle the migrant crisis during his summer leadership campaign.In the past year, 75 percent of completed asylum claims have resulted in the granting of the right to stay in the UK.However, under Mr Sunak’s plan that number could fall as more evidence could be required to prove that the individual is fleeing persecution or conflict.READ MORE: ‘You threatening me?’ Tory MP squares up to anti-Brexit activistThere are policy hints in Sunak’s choices- A Home Sec who wants to strictly limit migration and rejected a big increase- A Work&Pensions Sec who has publicly argued for linking benefits to inflation- A Chancellor who has said a spending squeeze / some tax rises are coming- Ben Riley-Smith (@benrileysmith) October 25, 2022 New PM’s reported views on immigration:- not expected to raise the cap on seasonal worker visas- does not agree with Home Secretary’s views on reducing student immigration- keen on “new visa schemes” for “skilled migrants and entrepreneurs”https://t.co/GGXhAJeaPD- CJ McKinney (@mckinneytweets) October 27, 2022 Lucy Moreton, an officer at the Immigration Services Union, admitted on Wednesday that the backlogs had become a “draw” for economic migrants as they realised the delays meant their chances of staying were good.Home Office officials were forced to admit earlier this week that the asylum system was ‘overwhelmed’ due to the arrival of 38,000 migrants crossing the Channel in small boats.There are concerns about the ability of Home Secretary Suella Braverman to deal with the issue after concerns were raised if she could be trusted by the security services.Lord Blunkett, Tony Blair’s Home Secretary from 2001 to 2004, warned that intelligence services at home and abroad would be ‘reluctant’ to share information with Ms Braverman.DON’T MISS: Rayner on the spot as Peston probes party’s ‘love’ for the rich [REVEAL] Sturgeon’s plan in tatters as EU to ban Scotland unless it joins Euro [INSIGHT] Nigel Farage refuses to rule out standing in next general election [SPOTLIGHT] “He’s slightly backed himself into a corner when he said he’s up for more nuclear, more rooftop solar panels and offshore wind farms.”How does Rishi Sunak plan to tackle energy, migration, and taxes? #TimesRadio chief political commentator @LOS_Fisher discusses. pic.twitter.com/6oEDoTzoph- Times Radio (@TimesRadio) October 25, 2022 It comes after she admitted to breaching security rules by sending sensitive Government details to a backbench MP and his wife using her personal email address.Meanwhile, Mr Sunak is believed to want a deal that includes the British Border Force and police working with their French counterparts with “mutually agreed targets’ to increase interception rates.Although French officials have stopped 28,000 migrants from reaching Britain this year, that number has fallen from 50 percent last year to only 42 percent.