Is that it? Burnham to plead with Macron for more help in stopping the boats after France offers just 45 officers to tackle new mega-dinghies

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 17:30 EDT, 2 September 2026 | Updated: 18:20 EDT, 2 September 2026 Andy Burnham will beg Emmanuel Macron to do more to help stop the boats after France offered just 45 more officers to tackle the new wave of 'mega-dinghies'.The Prime Minister will use talks in Downing Street on Thursday to urge the French President to step up efforts to tackle illegal Channel crossings.The two leaders are expected to announce plans for a new 'surge team' of French police, funded by Britain, to tackle the growing use of 'mega-dinghies', carrying up to 230 migrants.But government sources have admitted that it will involve just 45 extra officers.Mr Burnham is also expected to ask the French President to extend the controversial 'one in, one out' deal, despite it leading to the removal of fewer than 30 illegal migrants a week in its first year.The Prime Minister said this summer's fall in the number of crossings showed 'what can be achieved when the UK and France work together'.But the Conservatives branded the plans a 'joke', saying that rough weather in the Channel was the main reason for a fall in crossings.Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said: 'Since the election 95 per cent of illegal immigrants crossing the Channel have been allowed to stay – so no wonder they keep coming. Almost 20,000 illegal immigrants so far this year is still a disaster.' Some 230 migrants crammed on to a single 'mega-dinghy' to cross the Channel last month Andy Burnham and Emmanuel Macron joined King Charles to visit the new Bayeaux Tapestry exhibition on Wednesday night before talks in No 10 on ThursdayMr Philp released footage last month showing French gendarmes standing and watching while dozens of migrants clambered on to a dinghy in knee-deep water. One told him they had been ordered not to intervene.Mr Philp said payments under Labour's £660 million deal with France should be suspended 'until the French prevent all embarkations in shallow waters'.He added: 'We now have a mega-dinghy crisis with 150 illegal immigrants per dinghy crossing every time the sea is calm. All we have from the government are press releases and gimmicks. They haven't smashed the gangs and the 'one in, one out' deal has seen only three per cent of arrivals returned. It's a joke.'Downing Street insisted that the deal with France is helping to curb the number of illegal migrants crossing the Channel.The two leaders are expected to confirm that the total number of French police dedicated to stopping the boats has topped 1,000 for the first time with the creation of a 75-strong specialist unit. A 'surge team' of 45 officers will be deployed to western beaches where criminal gangs have taken to launching huge, dangerous dinghies this summer.The 'one in, one out' deal has led to the removal of around 1,400 illegal migrants to France, with a similar number of legitimate asylum seekers allowed to travel to the UK.Despite the tiny numbers involved, No 10 yesterday insisted the deal was a 'significant step in the right direction'.Mr Burnham said: 'The progress we have seen this summer shows what can be achieved when the UK and France work together.'But I am clear that we cannot be complacent. Smuggling gangs are constantly adapting their tactics, and the UK and France need to respond quickly and stay one step ahead of the criminals facilitating the dangerous crossings.'The small boats crisis is a shared European challenge, and no country can solve it alone. Working with France and our international partners, we will restore order and control to our borders and prevent smugglers exploiting vulnerable migrants.'Mr Burnham will also use the talks to discuss the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.And he will ask the French President for help in negotiating a closer deal with Europe at a UK-EU summit expected this autumn.