French government on verge of collapse throws Starmer's migrant boat plans into chaos

Plans for French police to intercept migrant boats at sea for the first time are hanging in the balance as France's government teeters on the brink of collapse.

The French cabinet had agreed back in June to shake up maritime law interpretation, paving the way for border police, gendarmes and coastguard vessels to intercept migrant boats within 300 metres of the coastline.

British officials had celebrated the breakthrough as a "gamechanger" in the battle against small-boat crossings, which have soared to a staggering record high of 28,947 so far this year - more than 50 per cent up on the same period last year. Yet the news comes as it was revealed how Bulgaria is helping the UK stop illegal small boat crossings in Channel.

France's interior ministry had promised to roll out the law change "this summer" but Sir Keir Starmer's hopes of getting to grips with the small-boats crisis have been dealt a crushing blow.

The reinterpretation of French maritime law now faces being torpedoed by a looming confidence vote that the French government looks certain to lose.

France in chaos

Being able to intercept migrant boats in the Channel is seen as absolutely vital to tackling crossings because of cunning tactics used by people smugglers. The criminals launch "taxi boat" dinghies from hidden beaches or inland waterways before piloting them to other coastal spots where they can collect large groups of migrants from chest-deep water and leap back ashore in the chaos.

Current French law bans police from targeting a migrant boat once it has hit the water unless it calls for rescue. This forces French officers to try stopping boats before they enter the sea, but intervention rates have actually dipped slightly to 43 per cent this year.

The sea interception plans had already been held up by French government lawyers who raised alarm bells about legality under international maritime conventions regarding stopping vessels at sea for reasons other than rescue.

Now the proposals have been hit by another major blow after François Bayrou, the French prime minister, announced on Monday that a confidence vote will take place on September 8 - which the government appears destined to lose following fury from opposition members over budget plans.

Stopping crossings 'not a priority'

A defeat would send the country spiralling into fresh political turmoil as President Macron scrambles to find a new prime minister to form another government. The current administration would stay on as a caretaker government with powers limited to handling only routine business.

Letting police intercept migrant boats within 300 metres of the coast is hardly likely to top the agenda for any incoming government. Its main focus would be getting a harsh austerity budget through to slash France's eye-watering debt and deficit.

French government sources admitted the maritime law change is unlikely to happen anytime soon and would be way down the priority list for any new administration.

A UK government source said: "The political situation in France is difficult. We still hope they will operationalise it but it has become more difficult due to these developments."