Image source, Reuters

We can now bring you the latest images of French President Emmanuel Macron, who has just visited a military base in the UK with PM Keir Starmer.

As we've been reporting, the pair are set to announce a "one in, one out" deal in a bid to curb the number of people crossing the English Channel on small boats.

During Macron's three-day state visit, the leaders have also been holding talks on defence and the war in Ukraine.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Matthew Sydney
Reporting from Dover

Image source, PA Media

We saw around 160 migrants come ashore from the Border Force vessel Hurricane this lunchtime.

From a vantage point high on the cliffs above Dover, we watched through a long lens and counted the people coming ashore - there were several small children on board.

We'd been tracking the Hurricane online from early this morning.

At around 08:00 she was static mid-Channel between Dover and Calais – from there she sailed south to around 15 miles west of Boulogne, close to the French vessel Abeille Normandie.

She probably picked up migrants from dinghies in both places, before heading to Dover. In total, we've seen around 220 migrants arrive here today, and there may be more to come.

From here, they'll be taken to a processing station at the former RAF base in Manston – before they move on to accommodation around the UK.

What do you want to know about small boat crossings? At 17:30 BST today, the BBC News Channel will have a panel of experts and BBC correspondents on hand to answer your questions.

You can send your queries in the following ways:

• Email: bbcyourvoice@bbc.co.uk  , external
• WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803   , external
• Upload your pictures and video  

Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy.

In some cases a selection of your comments and questions will be published, displaying your name and location as you provide it unless you state otherwise. Your contact details will never be published.  

Peter Gillibrand
BBC Newsbeat

Image source, Clemence Zdziech

Lots of headlines here about Emmanuel Macron’s visit to the UK and the summit, but BBC Newsbeat is asking the question – what do young French people make of it?

"I don't think people in France care to be honest," says Clemence Zdziech who lives in Marseille. "We care more about what’s going on locally rather than looking at what [Macron] is doing abroad."

She thinks a lot of French people don't want their country to help with what's going on in the Channel.

"Ever since Brexit it’s like 'you don’t want to be with us? You don’t want to be in our group?' So you just get on with your own problems and we'll deal with ours."

Clemence says people in Marseille don't talk about the migration crisis in the English Channel enough - partly because "it’s really far away. Literally the other end of France".

Despite the apparent apathy of some French people to the summit in London, Clemence says the UK and France should "definitely stop bickering".

"We need co-operation on a lot of levels and especially migration."

Image source, PA Media

This morning, we heard brief statements from both Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.

They were speaking around a large conference table inside No 10, joined by members of their delegations. These were the key bits:

On migration: Everyone agrees the Channel situation cannot continue, Starmer said. He added they are bringing in new tactics and intend to tackle illegal migration and people smuggling gangs. Macron said France shares the same resolve to fight them.

On defence: Macron reiterated French support for Ukraine, as did Starmer on the UK side. Macron also said they will look at ways to stabilise the Middle East, as Starmer said the UK and France share responsibility for the continent's security, which they will protect.

On relationships: Starmer said the summit signals a step change in the partnership. Macron said they will work hand in hand on key issues.

Image source, Reuters

With talks in No 10 now over, the UK and French leaders will now turn their attention to defence.

Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron will this afternoon host a meeting of the so-called coalition of the willing.

The group of mostly European leaders was created with the intention of pledging support for Ukraine against Russia’s aggression.

Ukraine's leader Volodymyr Zelensky - along with other leaders - will join remotely from Rome, where he is taking part in a conference around supporting his country's recovery from Russia's invasion.

Earlier on, we reported on how the UK and France have already announced a further defence agreement, when the two countries agreed to order more Storm Shadow cruise missiles.

We’ll continue to provide you updates as the meetings take place - and we’re expecting a joint press-conference between Starmer and Macron to wrap up the state visit a little later on this afternoon.

Paul Kirby
Europe digital editor

Image source, AFP

Several EU countries in Southern Europe will be eyeing the detail of any UK-France deal that's agreed today on curbing irregular migration across the Channel.

That's because they fear the deal could affect them directly - if France takes back migrants involved in small-boat crossings, in return for the UK accepting people with family connections.

Under EU rules, those migrants sent back to France would have to claim asylum in the European country they first came to, and in most cases that means the five states bordering the Mediterranean - Spain and Italy in particular.

The southern states have told the European Commission of their worries about a UK-France deal, and the Commission's internal affairs spokesman, Markus Lammert, has just given a brief statement on the issue.

"We are working with France and the UK, as well as other [EU] member states to support solutions that are compatible with the spirit and letter of EU law," he tells reporters in Brussels.

It's another element that the UK and France will have taken account of, if this deal is to have any chance of success.

Tom Symonds
Reporting from Dover

We’ve counted between 40 and 50 migrants crossing the Channel on small boats being brought ashore just now at the Western Jet Foil facility in Dover.

Monitoring the shipping in the channel we believe there have been at least two interceptions of inflatable boats by a French coastguard vessel.

As is normal, because of the risk migrants might resist attempts to stop them and drown, they are escorted to the waiting British Border Force boats in the middle of the Channel.

At that point they effectively hand themselves in and can be taken safely on board.

That’s happened again this morning and now they’re being processed in a holding area here in Dover.

So far this week, 695 people have crossed. That figure will now increase to around 750.

We're now watching live footage from Dover, which shows a Border Force boat docking.

On board is a large crowd of passengers, believed to be migrants, following an incident in the Channel.

They are wearing orange lifejackets. Police and ambulances can be seen waiting on the shore.

Matthew Sydney
Reporting from Dover

The first Border Force boat believed to be carrying small boat migrants from a Channel incident today is approaching Dover.

The Typhoon is one of three Border Force ships in the Channel this morning.

Two more, Ranger and Hurricane, are still in the middle of the Channel.

As coastguard confirms it's responding to "multiple incidents" involving small boats in the Channel, we can now bring you footage from a short time ago, which shows a number of migrants on board the UK Border Force ship BF Hurricane.

The HM Coastguard has confirmed to the BBC that it has been involved in incidents in the Channel today.

"HM Coastguard has been coordinating a response to multiple incidents involving small boats in the Channel this morning," it says in a statement.

"UK Border Force vessels have been sent as part of this response.”

Image source, PA Media

Keir Starmer is hosting French President Emmanuel Macron at Downing Street on the final day of his state visit to the UK.

If you are just joining our coverage, let's bring you up to speed with the key developments:

• The red carpet was rolled out as Starmer greeted Macron outside No 10, before being ushered round the back for a family photo with their respective delegations
• As talks kicked off - and before the camera crews were shown the door - Macron said France and the UK "share the same will" to address illegal immigration - Starmer added that they agree the situation "cannot go on as is"
• So, what's in the deal? For each individual taken back, France would transfer one asylum seeker to the UK, probably someone with a family connection or genuine reason to seek sanctuary here
• British government sources said they were optimistic about reaching a deal to try to reduce the number of migrants crossing the Channel from France

• A French National Assembly member told the BBC the policy might be accepted in France - but expressed fears it might not go far enough

Stay with us for more updates and analysis.

UK-France returns deal likely to face several obstaclespublished at 11:08 BST 10 July

11:08 BST 10 July

Mark Easton
Home editor

Like the previous government's Rwanda scheme, this proposed returns deal is likely to encounter several legal, political and practical obstacles.

Any attempt to return people who have claimed asylum in the UK to France will trigger a challenge in the courts. Is it legal under the UN Refugee Convention?

The previous government attempted to get around that issue with its Nationality and Borders Act, declaring it unlawful for a migrant to claim asylum in the UK if they had travelled through a safe third country such as France. Might Labour keep that controversial element of the Conservative legislation?

The European Union will also have concerns about a scheme which some member states fear will see returnees shifted to the first EU country they entered under the so-called Dublin Convention.

As well as legal challenge to returning people, there will be practical difficulties in deciding which migrants in France should be sent to the UK, as part of the ‘one-in one-out’ deal. Who will make those decisions and on what basis? And will it work?

The pilot scheme being proposed is probably not at a large enough scale to act as a serious deterrent, but officials believe the arrangement has the potential to be powerful weapon in the battle to stop the boats.

Image source, Reuters

Wrapping up the short public segment of their talks, Macron, speaking now in English, thanks Starmer for the "perfect and warm organisation of the state visit".

Switching to French, he adds: "This summit is of prime importance."

"We would like to collectively together, hand in hand, to build what will allow us to address the looming challenges," Macron says, according to a translator.

On migration, he says their relationship is key and France shares "the same resolve to fight against illegal criminal gangs".

On defence and security, Macron says "we have a solid history no way impacted by Brexit. However, this summit will kick start some key issues in terms of capacity".

Like Starmer, he mentions Ukraine, and says they will reaffirm their support for the country and increase pressure on Russia.

We can bring you some more comments now from the opening of the summit.

Speaking to those in the room, Keir Starmer says it's their task to "look forward to apply our collective strength and leadership" to the challenges they face.

"This summit will signal a step change in our partnership," he adds.

"In uncertain times we achieve more by strengthening our relationship with our allies. That is what today is all about, working on our priorities that we share as two nations.

"We all agree that the situation in the Channel cannot go on as it is so we're bringing new tactics into play and a new intent to tackle illegal migration and break the business model of the criminal gangs."

He says they share a unique responsibility for the security of the continent, and together, France and the UK must protect it.

It's right that they lead the response on Ukraine, he adds, and "drive Putin to the negotiation table".

Image source, PA Media

We are now getting a glimpse inside 10 Downing Street, as the leaders and their delegations convene around a conference table ahead of the UK-France summit.

Macron opens, speaking in French, and explains they will talk about the Middle East, how to stabilise the situation and how to get Iran to agree to a nuclear deal.

The countries need to ensure their sovereignty and security, and Macron thanks the UK for securing the summit.

"We have wars and destabilisation at the moment, hence why it is important to come together," Macron says, according to a translation of his remarks.

Starmer thanks him, and says they will now begin private discussions.

Home Office data says 38,023 people arrived in the UK on small boats in the year to March 2025, up 22% on the previous year (31,079).

The release, updated in June, external, adds that it is still 17% fewer arrivals than the peak year of 2022.

Of those that arrived on small boats, almost three-fifths (57%) were from five nationalities:

• 16% were Afghan
• 12% were Syrian
• 12% were Eritrean
• 11% were Iranian
• 9% were Sudanese

Since 2018, 94% of people arriving on small boats (145,834) have claimed asylum, the Home Office says.

Of these, 56,605 were granted asylum or other protection status, while 30,041 were refused. A further 19,696 people had their claims withdrawn, as 29,373 are still awaiting a decision.

More recent data, compiled by BBC Verify, shows that as of 6 July, a total of 21,117 people had arrived in the UK in small boats in 2025. This is up by around 56% compared with the same period in 2024.

Image source, Reuters

Members of the UK and French delegations are now gathering to take the family picture ahead of their summit today.

We can spot Starmer and Macron in the middle, with cabinet ministers John Healey, Yvette Cooper and Rachel Reeves also in tow.

Image source, Reuters

For the second time during his state visit, French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived at Downing Street.

He is being greeted by Starmer, as the two prepare to head inside for talks.

Image source, Reuters