The existing near £500 million arrangement was due to end at midnight on Wednesday morning and the extension has been signed while the UK and France continue to thrash out a deal. Operational contracts will be funded by £16.2 million in UK funding which will be covered as part of the new deal, the Home Office said. The Home Secretary said: “Our work with France has stopped 42,000 attempts by illegal migrants to make the journey across the Channel. “While we finalise a new and improved UK-France deal, French law enforcement operations to stop illegal migrants in France will continue. The Reform leader told him that under his plans, the Royal Navy will tow boats back to northern France.

Source: The Times March 31, 2026 16:33 UTC