When the Germans threatened to breach the Western Front in March 1918, the situation was saved by an outbreak of trust and harmony between Britain and France. David Lloyd George decided there was “only one effective thing to do” and that was to make Marshal Foch supreme allied commander, placing the British Army under the Frenchman’s ultimate control. “Foch”, wrote Lloyd George, “rose to the occasion with the might of a giant.”
Not even their friends would describe Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron as giants, but when the French president begins his state visit to Britain tomorrow, the two leaders should seek to revive the mutual confidence of that hour of crisis in 1918.
There is only one way to halt the daily inflow of illegal immigrants across the Channel and that is a cast-iron agreement whereby every last arrival is swiftly returned to France. Such a deal, if it works, would create the deterrent that has always been missing so far. Why would anyone pay thousands of dollars to a people smuggler if their boat journey ends not in a free hotel room in Britain but a quick journey back to Pas-de-Calais? Why would illegal migrants gather in northern France if they have no prospect of reaching Britain?
Mr Macron must realise that a workable returns agreement is overwhelmingly in the interests of both countries. If the people-smuggling business model can be broken and the cross-Channel route turned into a two-way journey, this would weaken the pull factor that draws illegal migrants to France in the first place.
Sir Keir and Mr Macron should move heaven and earth to sign such an agreement this week and then make it succeed. Other EU countries, including Italy and Greece, have already objected that illegal migrants may simply be pushed back to where they first arrived in Europe. These governments should be reminded that if onward journeys across the Channel are made non-viable – and over 20,000 people have crossed so far this year – then Europe as a whole will be a less attractive destination.
On every international issue ranging from illegal migration to the Russian threat, Britain and France share essentially the same interests. Our two countries also possess broadly the same military and diplomatic capabilities. If we cannot co-operate, then nothing can save us. Sir Keir and M Macron will never be giants, but they can rise to the occasion with pragmatism and wisdom.
When the Germans threatened to breach the Western Front in March 1918, the situation was saved by an outbreak of trust and harmony between Britain and France. David Lloyd George decided there was “only one effective thing to do” and that was to make Marshal Foch supreme allied commander, placing the British Army under the Frenchman’s ultimate control. “Foch”, wrote Lloyd George, “rose to the occasion with the might of a giant.”
Not even their friends would describe Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron as giants, but when the French president begins his state visit to Britain tomorrow, the two leaders should seek to revive the mutual confidence of that hour of crisis in 1918.
There is only one way to halt the daily inflow of illegal immigrants across the Channel and that is a cast-iron agreement whereby every last arrival is swiftly returned to France. Such a deal, if it works, would create the deterrent that has always been missing so far. Why would anyone pay thousands of dollars to a people smuggler if their boat journey ends not in a free hotel room in Britain but a quick journey back to Pas-de-Calais? Why would illegal migrants gather in northern France if they have no prospect of reaching Britain?
Mr Macron must realise that a workable returns agreement is overwhelmingly in the interests of both countries. If the people-smuggling business model can be broken and the cross-Channel route turned into a two-way journey, this would weaken the pull factor that draws illegal migrants to France in the first place.
Sir Keir and Mr Macron should move heaven and earth to sign such an agreement this week and then make it succeed. Other EU countries, including Italy and Greece, have already objected that illegal migrants may simply be pushed back to where they first arrived in Europe. These governments should be reminded that if onward journeys across the Channel are made non-viable – and over 20,000 people have crossed so far this year – then Europe as a whole will be a less attractive destination.
On every international issue ranging from illegal migration to the Russian threat, Britain and France share essentially the same interests. Our two countries also possess broadly the same military and diplomatic capabilities. If we cannot co-operate, then nothing can save us. Sir Keir and M Macron will never be giants, but they can rise to the occasion with pragmatism and wisdom.