The channel’s home and security editor, Mark White, shared his thoughts as he shared that the Home Office had announced a new £662 million migrant deal with France to slow small boat crossings. Speaking from Dunkirk, as the breaking banner flashed across the bottom of the screen, White shared that the deal will last for three years. “If it’s successful, then they will get yearly increments,” he added. “I think quite a few people might raise an eyebrow or two over this process because we were told that Shabana Mahmood was playing hardball with the French, and that she was not willing to accept giving them the same kinds of money as the previous government without the French agreeing to this performance-linked aspect of what they do on the beaches.”
He then pointed out that it is now costing the original £500m, the same as the previous deal, plus £162m more, which White said “will be performance linked”.
“So, I’m not quite sure it was as billed when we were told that Shabana Mahmood was going to drive a good deal with the French.”
Fans watching were infuriated by the report. Taking to X/Twitter, one viewer fumed: “SLOW DOWN? NOT SHUT DOWN??? £600 Million? You know why UK/EU are failing. Wake up people!!!!!”
Another raged: “I’ve had to turn off. I’m so angry about this money going to the French!! Why can’t we just find an island somewhere and leave them. The French must be having a great laugh at us. We should protect our own borders not rely on other countries.”
As a third penned: “Nonsense deal like every other Labour project siphon off British Taxpayers’ money to pay for EU projects! (France’s Border Force) whilst France do nothing, emptying their makeshift camps of non-EU fake asylum seekers. Civil war coming…”
Someone else added: “£662 million spaffed up the wall for absolutely nothing in return as we will not see any boats or migrants stopped by the French! What are we actually getting for wasting £662 million of taxpayers’ hard earned money – absolutely f*** all!!”
