Yvette Cooper has failed to guarantee that the first migrants will be removed to France this month. The one in one out deal was announced to fanfare over four weeks ago…
The Home Secretary was asked on Sky News when migrants would begin to be sent back:
“We expect the first returns to take place this month. This was a new treaty that was in days or or in a month’s time. A new treaty that was signed just four weeks ago. Entirely new processes and systems that are being put in place, new detention arrangements that we have put in place, new referrals of cases to France.”
Asked if the French government’s possible imminent collapse was a risk to the deal, Cooper diverted:
“This is cooperation at the very highest level. You know, of course we will continue to work with the French government. Of course, we want that partnership to be as strong as possible, but this is also about the work that we’re doing and the work that France is doing to make sure that they can intervene in French waters.”
Prompted to guarantee that migrants would go this month Cooper refused, saying instead: “So we we’ll work with the French government with French ministers of course.” And this is to send back only 50 per week…