Sunak calls on Macron to make migrant Channel crossings ‘unviable’

Rishi Sunak and Emmanuel Macron held their first phone call this morning, but the two world leaders appear to have ignored the issue of Brexit and the Northern Ireland Protocol negotiations. The readout from their call included no mention of the issues, which have caused tensions between the UK and France since the 2016 Brexit referendum result. A Downing Street spokesperson said Mr Sunak “stressed the importance he places on the UK’s relationship with France – our neighbour and ally”.

He also “noted the strong historic and cultural links” between the two countries, which he said was “exemplified by President Macron’s moving words following the death of Her Majesty The Queen”.

The Downing Street official added: “The leaders agreed that there are a huge range of areas where UK-France cooperation is vital, including on Ukraine, climate, defence and the economy.

“The Prime Minister and President Macron discussed a range of global issues, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“They agreed on the importance of continuing to work in support of Ukraine.

“As people across Europe face a difficult winter, with rising energy costs resulting from Putin’s invasion, the leaders resolved to work together to secure a more stable energy future. This includes increasing cooperation on nuclear energy.”

The pair also discussed migration, with Mr Sunak stressing the “importance for both nations to make the Channel route completely unviable for people traffickers.”

The Prime Minister’s spokesperson added: “The leaders committed to deepening our partnership to deter deadly journeys across the Channel that benefit organised criminals.

“The Prime Minister and President Macron looked forward to meeting soon, and to holding a UK-France Summit next year.”

Their call comes amid simmering tensions between the UK and the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol. 

Yesterday, Northern Ireland Assembly members returned to Stormont in a last-ditch attempt to restore the country’s executive in order to avert an election.

But the DUP refused to restore power-sharing with Sinn Fein in protest against the Northern Ireland Protocol.

As a result, the UK Government will be forced to call another election to the Stormont Assembly in the next 12 weeks.

Speaking from Stormont yesterday, DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said: “We do not believe that sufficient progress has been made to addressing the issues of concern to the people that we represent.

“We were given a clear mandate in the assembly elections, and we would not nominate ministers to an executive until decisive action is taken on the protocol to remove the barriers to trade within our own country and to restore our place within the United Kingdom internal market.”

The UK has been locked in talks with the EU over the Northern Ireland Protocol – which was agreed as part of the withdrawal agreement to avoid a hard border in Ireland post-Brexit – since October 2021.

Technical discussions on how to fix problems with Northern Ireland Protocol are expected to continue even in the event of fresh elections.

This is a change from earlier this year, when discussions were paused ahead of May’s elections.

UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly spoke to European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic yesterday to discuss negotiations over the protocol.

It allows Northern Ireland to remain within the EU’s single market for goods but it has faced criticism because a border was effectively created between Great Britain and Northern Ireland down the Irish Sea.

The border has led to delays, supermarket shortages and increased costs for businesses in Northern Ireland.

Assembly members are currently meeting at Stormont with Sinn Féin, which won the largest number of seats in the last assembly election in May.

The party has called for the DUP to end its protest but the DUP refused, describing yesterday’s assembly meeting as a “flawed and failed attempt” to restore power-sharing.