Boris Johnson writes to Emmanuel Macron proposing joint patrols on French beaches

Boris Johnson has written to Emmanuel Macron formally proposing joint patrols on French beaches as early as next week to stop small boats carrying migrants heading for the UK.

In a letter spelling out UK plans after 27 people drowned in the Channel, Mr Johnson also calls for a new “returns agreement” between the two countries.

The deal, if agreed by Paris, would see migrants who arrive on UK shores illegally sent back to France, with London taking in more child migrants with British family links in return.

Downing Street sees the pact as the best long-term solution to the escalating problem of boat crossings, as it would undercut smugglers promising a route into the UK.

A senior government source said: “A returns agreement would be the single biggest deterrent of these crimes. If migrants that cross the Channel illegally are sent back to France this totally busts the smuggling gangs.”

Other UK proposals include more sensors on French beaches, better airborne surveillance, extra maritime patrols and deeper joint intelligence work.

The letter will be seen as an attempt to push ahead with constructive discussions after days of finger-pointing between British and French politicians following the tragedy in the Channel.

Emmanuel Macron, the French President, urged Mr Johnson on a call on Thursday night “to refrain from exploiting a tragic situation for political ends”, according to an Élysée Palace readout.

Hours earlier, Mr Johnson had called on France to “step up” and do more with the UK to stop small boats, saying “we’ve had difficulties persuading some of our partners, particularly the French, to do things in a way that we think the situation deserves”.

The discussions are complicated by tensions in the relationship on other issues, such as the number of UK fishing licences granted to the French, a stand-off over trade tensions in Northern Ireland caused by Brexit and the recent Australia-UK-US nuclear submarine pact.

French fishermen are set to blockade the port of Calais and the Channel Tunnel on Friday amid the row over licences to fish in British waters.

Cabinet ministers are among those in the UK who believe Mr Macron has lent into recent political rows to shore up support at home ahead of his re-election bid next spring - an accusation of politicisation that French ministers have also thrown at Downing Street.

Constructive talks

There were signs on Thursday of talks becoming more constructive. Home Office officials will travel to France on Friday for discussions on wider cooperation between the two countries on Channel migrants.