Breakthrough deal with France on migrant crossings ‘may be ready in days’

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Foreign secretary James Cleverly met with French foreign minister Catherine Colonna on Thursday to discuss the “urgency of tackling all forms of illegal migration”. The agreement could The recent development in the landmark deal comes after Rishi Sunak said earlier this week that he and home secretary Suella Braverman were working “day and night” to end “the unacceptable rise in Channel crossings”. In response to Conservative former minister Maggie Throup’s calls for the prime minister to promise an “immediate reduction in asylum seekers concentrated in one place”, Mr Sunak gave an “absolute cast-iron commitment that we want to get to grips with this problem”. He said: “She has my reassurance that the home secretary and I are working day and night to resolve this problem, not just to end the use of expensive contingency accommodation but for more fundamental reform so that we can finally get to grips with this issue, protect our borders and end illegal migration.”