The French president says that since Brexit, many people in the UK believed the country would be able to better tackle immigration.

But, he says the reality is that the UK has since had no migratory agreement with the EU, meaning there is no legal method for people to cross or to send them back.

Macron suggests this is a pull factor for people to attempt to cross - precisely the opposite of what was promised.

As a result of today's pilot scheme, Macron says the countries will open a way for people with family ties in the UK to cross legally, but also prevent people being admitted if they make an crossing, on a one-for-one basis.

The president says the new scheme will be implemented once it has been legally verified, and he hopes it will be implemented as rapidly as possible.

Macron returns to the issue of small boats, noting the UK and France have previously successfully curbed people entering the UK illegally by rail and road.

He says they have noticed since January an increase in illegal crossings with new "taxi boats", with those using them taking ever-increasing risks.

The French president says he has strengthened checks and today France has 1,200 security forces deployed to do so.

He notes that small boats crossings are a problem on both sides of the Channel.

Macron says the today was about a "reset" on a bilateral level", explaining that trade has topped pre-Brexit levels, which is good for the British economy.

Elaborating on it, he adds that the UK and France have several co-operation agreements, and are strengthening their partnerships in civilian nuclear power - EDF in Sizewell C. He says they are also co-operating in space.

He also mentions the loan of Bayeux Tapestry, and gives Larry the Cat a shout-out too. (In case you missed it, Larry the Cat posted on X about his overwhelming urge to scratch said iconic item.)

Macron now says he's agreed with Starmer to "speed up and accelerate" co-operation on anti-ship missiles in what he described as a "full sweep" to help confront major challenges.

Discussing the meeting of the coalition of the willing earlier, he reiterates there's a "determination" to support Ukraine and describes the virtual summit as a "show of unity".

The French president says the commitment of the 30 countries that have mobilised in support of Kyiv has allowed them to rally US senators now gearing up to launch further sanctions against Russia.

President Emmanuel Macron opens his remarks with thanks to the King for inviting him on a state visit and the "outstanding welcome" offered to his family.

He says the visit, the first by a French president in 17 years, recalls the strength of the Anglo-French alliance and a reset around "shared interests".

Macron highlights the importance of defence and security co-operation, noting that times have changed in Europe and the UK-France partnership "must change accordingly".

He adds that both nations must confront a major conflict in Europe, referencing Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Macron says Europe must be able to rely on the strategic collaboration between the UK and France, which is why they signed the Northwood Declaration to co-ordinate the deterrence offered by the nuclear weapons both nations possess.

Image source, PA Media

Referring to the summit on Ukraine the pair co-chaired - with countries of the so-called coalition of the willing - Starmer says as leaders in Nato we play a vital role in preserving peace.

Starmer says they have signed the Northwood Declaration, which would allow the UK and France to co-ordinate their nuclear deterrents for the first time.

Our adversaries will now know that any attack will result in "response from our two nations", the PM adds.

Starmer moves on to discussing further talks on jobs and growth he's had with Macron, saying the two countries "have gone further today" to improve trade and investment.

The prime minister says the UK and France will be strengthening collaboration on supercomputers, satellite connectivity and also work on seizing the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence.

He says he and Macron have agreed to stand together in support of European security and for Ukraine.

Starmer says that he knows some will still question why the UK should take anyone in.

But he explains that the country accepts genuine asylum seekers to provide a "haven" to those in dire need.

But, the PM says that the UK cannot solve a challenge by acting alone, and goes on to praise some of the French government's steps to tackling small boats.

Starmer says he is pleased to announce an agreement on a "ground-breaking" returns scheme.

He says migrants arriving via small boat will be "detained and returned to France in short order".

The PM says in exchange a different person will be allowed to come to the UK by a controlled, safe and legal route.

He adds that this will be subject to "strict security checks" and only open to people who have not tried to enter the country illegally.

Starmer says this will show others trying to make the same journey their efforts will be "in vain". He confirms this pilot scheme will begin "in the coming weeks".

Starmer says today, the task is to look forward in what he calls a "step change in partnership".

He says first on their agenda is illegal migration which is a global and European crisis and that they face a sprawling enterprise run by criminal gangs, which they are determined to end.

Keir Starmer starts off by thanking "firm ally" Emmanuel Macron, saying they have a "shared sense" of the dangerous times we're living through.

"We also share the fundamental belief that we serve our people better, create better jobs and opportunities... if we work together," he says.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron have just started a joint news conference.

They're expected to unveil details of a plan to tackle small boat crossings.

You can watch live at the top of our page and we'll bring you the key lines here, so stay with us.

Image source, PA Media

The King spoke to a lifeboat crew about a small boat rescue and asked whether they "get a lot" of those types of call-outs, during a visit to an RNLI station in Kent.

Earlier, he visited Walmer Beach near Deal Castle and spoke to RNLI volunteers about their work, joined in with some litter picking and greeted members of the public.

Among the volunteers were three crew members who were being honoured for a rescue operation 10 miles off the coast on in December 2022.

Four people died and 43 were rescued in the incident when a small boat began taking on water.

Volunteer Daniel Sinclair told the King the small boats were "not very seaworthy" and described the operation as "traumatic".

Image source, PA Media

Do you have any questions about small boat crossings? The BBC News Channel will have a panel of experts and our correspondents on hand at 1730 BST.

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Matthew Sydney
Reporting from Dover

We've just seen an RNLI lifeboat from Dungeness bring 47 more migrants ashore in Dover - including one very small child.

The boat's decks were packed with people as it arrived in the port.

Only one person on board seemed to be carrying a lifejacket. We don't know if the migrants had taken lifejackets off on board the boat, or had left France without any. It's unusual to see migrants arriving in Dover without them.

RNLI lifeboats aren't used very often in the Channel - Border Force vessels take most of the strain. An online ship tracker shows three RNLI lifeboats heading out into the Channel – there may be more migrants still out at sea.

The RNLI said in a statement its lifeboats had been "tasked by HM Coastguard to two incidents in the Channel today".

The BBC's Tom Symonds is in Dover, observing a UK Border Force ship bringing migrants ashore after picking them up in the English Channel.

Image source, Reuters

Ahead of a news conference to unveil a migrant returns plan, French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer discussed European plans for a peacekeeping force to support Ukraine once the war ends.

Starmer states that plans are "mature" after months of planning, while Macron describes them as "ready to go" once a ceasefire is agreed.

The pair were joined by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, who attended talks remotely from Rome, where the Ukraine Recovery Conference is ongoing.

During the meeting Zelensky reminded allies that Kyiv needs the US "very much" because of its sanctions against Russia and military support.

Image source, Reuters

One in 17 people who arrive into the UK on small boats could be returned to France if, as it's understood, an initial pilot scheme sees 50 migrants being sent back each week. That would equate to 2,600 migrants per year.

The calculation is based on the latest figures available, which show that 44,444 people reached British shores between 7 July 2024 and 6 July 2025.

As we've been reporting, we're hoping to hear more details from UK PM Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron later.

Image source, Reuters

While we wait for more details on what’s included in the UK-France immigration deal, let's have a close look at what we do know.

As BBC political correspondent Damian Grammaticas wrote a little earlier, the new plan could see the UK return migrants to France. Paris would then transfer one asylum seeker to the UK for every individual taken back.

These would likely be people who already have family connections or a genuine reason to seek sanctuary in the country.

It is understood that around 50 migrants could be sent each way each week, under a pilot.

However, it's unclear whether the final details of this "one in, one out" policy will be agreed this week.

Both nations have also said they'll continue to address the "pull factors" that encourage people to attempt to cross the Channel to reach the UK.

As we wait to hear details from Starmer and Macron on their returns plan, we're seeing pictures of migrants disembarking from a Border Force boat on the south coast of England.

The BBC's Matthew Sydney saw more than 200 migrants coming ashore in Dover today.

Earlier, the coastguard told the BBC that it co-ordinated the response to multiple incidents involving small boats in the Channel.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media