PM Starmer is exploring a “much more transactional” approach to visa access, where cooperation on returns and preventative measures would become a key condition for entry eligibility
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has signalled a possible overhaul of Britain’s visa policy, hinting that future access to UK visas could depend on whether a country agrees to take back failed asylum seekers. His remarks come as the government grapples with a sharp rise in small boat crossings across the English Channel, amid intensifying pressure to deliver on Labour’s promise to “restore order” to the immigration system.
Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, Starmer told reporters he is exploring a “much more transactional” approach to visa access, where cooperation on returns and preventative measures would become a key condition for entry eligibility.
As reported by the BBC, Starmer said: “We are looking at issues like a smarter use of our visas—whether we should tie them to the work countries are doing on returns and preventative actions.” He added that while the UK has already secured several bilateral returns agreements, the government is now assessing whether visa access can be leveraged to drive stronger international cooperation.
His comments follow growing alarm over the deteriorating situation in the Channel. Official figures show more than 1,500 migrants arrived by small boats last week alone, taking the 2025 tally to over 16,000—an increase of 42% compared to the same point last year. Labour’s critics have seized on the numbers as evidence that the party’s new border strategy is not delivering quick results.
Starmer said that he had raised the issue directly with French President Emmanuel Macron during bilateral talks at the summit, with both leaders agreeing to prioritise migration as a key topic during Macron’s upcoming state visit to the UK in July. “Do we need to do more? Yes, we do,” the Prime Minister acknowledged. “It’s by working together that we can achieve that.”
Downing Street later confirmed that migration would feature prominently at the UK-France Summit on 8 July. Among anticipated announcements is a new “maritime doctrine” from French authorities, expected to allow elite police units to intercept dinghies as close as 300 metres from the French shore. Government sources have hailed the measure as a potential “game changer”.
According to BBC sources, this shift comes amid mounting tension in northern France. Clashes have been reported in migrant camps near Calais, with British intelligence indicating a recent spike in violence may be tied to a shortage of inflatable dinghies. Smuggling gangs are said to be evolving their tactics—using so-called “taxi boats” launched from concealed sites, with migrants wading into the sea to board beyond the reach of French patrols.
Home Office officials say the adaptation has made it harder for French police to intervene, though recent operations have shown an increase in aggressive policing. In 2023, the UK under the previous Conservative administration had pledged £478 million to France over three years to boost policing and surveillance efforts along the coast. However, interception rates remain below 60%.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticised Labour’s strategy as “weak and embarrassing,” accusing the Prime Minister of being outpaced by the crisis. “The gangs are laughing, the boats keep coming, and Labour’s response is another summit and taskforce,” Philp said.
Since Labour took power in July 2024, more than 40,000 migrants have crossed the Channel, according to the latest figures. While nearly 28,000 have been intercepted before reaching UK shores, critics argue that the sheer volume reflects an enforcement gap. The government has blamed the surge partly on favourable weather and the smugglers’ increasing tendency to overload vessels.
Labour, which scrapped the controversial Rwanda deportation scheme on taking office, insists its approach focuses on smarter border security and international cooperation. Starmer has ruled out resurrecting the Rwanda plan, saying the money is better spent on measures that deliver results.
Still, with the Channel crossings showing no sign of slowing, the Prime Minister faces a political balancing act—one that will test Labour’s credibility on immigration, even as it seeks to maintain a compassionate stance in contrast to its predecessors.
