Summary

  • UK PM Rishi Sunak has been giving a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron at a summit in Paris

  • The UK will - for the first time - help fund a migrant detention centre in France, Sunak says

  • It will contribute £479 million to France over three years in a big increase in money to help it curb small boats crossing the Channel

  • Part of the plans include giving money to France for extra police patrols on the beaches

  • Speaking after the first UK-French summit for five years, Sunak says today marks "a new beginning" in relations

  • More than 45,000 people entered the UK via Channel crossings last year, up from about 300 in 2018

  • Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says not getting a migrant returns agreement with France will make a "bad situation worse"

Live Reporting

Edited by James FitzGerald and Jeremy Gahagan

  1. Strong relationship with France is good for UK - Sunak

    Sunak and Macron in ParisReuters

    The prime minister has said France has “always been a friend of the UK” and a strong relationship with the French was a good thing for the country.

    Speaking ahead of the Paris summit, Sunak said: “I can’t figure out the past, all I can do is look forward and my view is having a strong collaborative relationship with the French with President Macron is a good thing for the country.”

    He went on to say: “It's been great actually getting to know Emmanuel over the last couple of months since I've had had the job. And I think there's a desire … on his part and my part, and just more generally, to strengthen the relationship, because there's an enormous amount of potential in it.

    I talked the other day about this being a new chapter in the relationship.

    Rishi Sunak

  2. Welcome to our coverage

    Good afternoon and welcome along to our coverage of Rishi Sunak’s visit to Paris.

    The prime minister has already met French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace and they've both been taking part in a discussion with French and British companies.

    We’ll be here in London bringing you the latest on what gets said at a press conference expected at about 14:00 GMT (15:00 local time), as well as gathering analysis from our correspondents and bringing you the latest updates.

    Stay with us as we bring you more.