Burnham hosts Macron in Downing Street for talks on migration and EU deal
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham will meet French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday to discuss tougher action against small boat crossings and a renegotiated deal with the European Union.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham will welcome French President Emmanuel Macron to Downing Street on Thursday, marking the first visit by a foreign head of state since he took office. The meeting represents one of Burnham's earliest steps into foreign affairs, an area he had previously said he would leave mostly untouched while focusing on domestic matters.
Tackling smuggling networks
Migration will dominate the agenda. In a statement issued Wednesday, Burnham acknowledged progress made over the summer in reducing small boat crossings but warned that smuggling networks keep shifting their methods, meaning both countries must stay ahead of them.
The two leaders are expected to unveil extra funding for French police to disrupt boat launches from the northern coast as well as larger "mega-dinghy" departures from the west. The number of French officers assigned to small boat operations in the north will soon climb to nearly 1,050, roughly a quarter higher than four months ago. A new 75-strong unit will be tasked with seizing equipment and detaining smugglers on land, an intelligence team will grow from 18 to 30 staff, and 45 additional officers will be sent to the west coast.
Migration has slipped down the political agenda recently as crossing numbers hit a seven-year low. Burnham attributes the decline to groundwork laid by his predecessor, Keir Starmer, against smuggling gangs, though analysts point out that outside factors, including improved security conditions in Syria, have also contributed.
EU treaty and Ukraine
Burnham will also press Macron for support in renegotiating Britain's relationship with the EU, with a new agreement expected in early November after Brussels postponed a planned summit from July. European nations are pushing for a youth mobility scheme and reduced tuition fees for their students, but Burnham, mindful of his constituents' views, may prove less accommodating than Starmer was. In exchange, London hopes to secure easier trade terms for electricity and agricultural goods.
The talks will also cover Ukraine and the war in Iran. Last month Burnham met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pledged to declassify sensitive military intelligence to help Ukraine produce more cruise missiles.
