It’s the big day for Starmer’s one-in, one-out migrant deal with France. The scheme, which was agreed during the state visit last month, comes into effect today – but Yvette Cooper and other figures in Whitehall remain suspiciously evasive when it comes to putting a number on returns to France. Immigration is, of course, the problem of highest salience across the country, and made even more pressing by recent riots at migrant hotels, giving far-right opposition parties plenty of ammunition. Polling shows that 40 per cent of Reform supporters would consider voting for Labour next time if the number of small boat arrivals fell. So, will it work? Will it prove a better deterrent than, say, the Rwanda deal?

This is undoubtedly a landmark agreement with France, and puts us in closer alliance with the French. Are there areas where we should be taking lessons from them – perhaps when it comes to our dealings with overseas terrorists, for example?

Oscar Edmondson speaks to Tim Shipman and Madeline Grant.

Produced by Oscar Edmondson.

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