Paris‑London Migrant Deal: A Real‑World “Therefore”?
When the UK government bragged about a new “one‑in, one‑out” pact with France, lawyer Fadi Farhat gave the whole arrangement a hard look. Bottom line: the deal is a gas‑bomb.
What the Deal Actually Says
- When someone crosses the Channel, they’re already in the UK’s jurisdiction.
- From that moment, the UK has two weeks to request a transfer back to France.
- France gets two weeks to reply, but the clause still allows an extension up to 28 days.
Why the Clock Might Tick on the Wrong Side
Farhat pointed out that the countdown only starts once a migrant has landed in the UK. It doesn’t kick off when an asylum seeker first asks the authorities for help. That gives people a bit of wiggle room to try and “run the clock” on arrival.
Split‑Second Scenarios
Imagine someone lands, and right after that a handful of migrants spread out, hoping an early group could trigger that 14‑day clock and escape the formal system. “It’s the same journey but with a different timing,” Farhat says.
When France Says “No”
If France doesn’t reply within 28 days, the UK treats that as an automatic denial. In practice, that puts France in a position to choose which migration requests to honor—or to ignore entirely.
Truth vs. Rhetoric
Farhat summed it up: “It’s not the silver bullet Keir Starmer kept promising. The agreement pretends it’s a diplomatic triumph, but the reality is a pretty flimsy arrangement.”
So while the headline may sound grand, the real-world implications? Not so great.
