Seats reserved on an Air France flight from Heathrow to Paris on Tuesday were left empty, despite letters sent to migrants confirming their removal. Lawyers acting on behalf of those due to be deported lodged fresh challenges, including claims of torture and trafficking, forcing officials to delay decisions.
The government had booked small numbers of seats on daily commercial flights this week, but so far none of the planned deportations have gone ahead. Ministers insist removals will begin by the end of the week, with France expected to accept only “a few individuals” in the early stages.
Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones defended the lack of detail, telling Times Radio that giving a running commentary would only help “abhorrent people smugglers”. But shadow home secretary Chris Philp branded the failure to remove any migrants as proof the scheme was a “gimmick”, accusing Labour of weakness and calling for the Human Rights Act to be repealed in immigration cases.
French officials have described the deal as “experimental” and warned it could be terminated if it fails to function. Migrants returned under the scheme will be taken to state-run asylum centres in France, but critics say many of those eventually ordered to leave will remain illegally.
The returns agreement has also drawn criticism from refugee charities and right-wing parties in France, while five Mediterranean countries have warned it risks shifting the asylum burden onto them.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs she is considering further measures to deter Channel crossings and will push for reforms to both domestic law and the European Convention on Human Rights.
So far this year, more than 31,000 migrants have arrived in the UK by small boat – a record figure and 38% higher than at this point in 2024.
