At Downing Street, Burnham and Macron seek closer UK-France ties

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron to Downing Street for talks focused on migration, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and Britain's future relationship with the European Union.

The visit makes the French President the first leader of an EU country to visit Downing Street for talks with Burnham since he became prime minister in July.

Burnham described France as Britain's nearest neighbor and close friend, saying cooperation between the two countries was already delivering results on Ukraine and migration.

Macron called the meeting an important moment in bilateral relations and said he had come to London with "a willingness and a commitment to get closer."

Efforts to prevent irregular migration across the English Channel in small boats were high on the agenda.

The British government says the number of people arriving over the summer fell to its lowest level since 2019. However, smuggling networks have responded by putting greater numbers of people aboard increasingly large vessels.

Downing Street announced ahead of the meeting that France would send 45 more officers to patrol parts of its western coastline in response to the larger launches, called 'mega-dinghies'.

One such vessel carried 230 people across the English Channel last month, a new record for a single boat crossing.

Economic relations 

Economic relations also formed an important backdrop to the meeting as Burnham seeks a closer post-Brexit partnership with the EU.

The prime minister has warned that Brussels' proposed "Made in Europe" procurement policy could create significant difficulties for British steelmakers if UK products do not receive the same access as those manufactured inside the EU.

Burnham wants Britain to be treated as a trusted European partner, arguing that manufacturing on the two sides of the Channel remains deeply interdependent.

The prime minister has also identified farming as a priority ahead of the next UK-EU summit. The government hopes to secure an agri-food agreement that would reduce checks and administrative costs for British agricultural exports.

However, Burnham continues to rule out Britain rejoining the EU single market or customs union, telling MPs on Monday that he will stand by commitments made in Labour's 2024 general election manifesto.

While France supports closer UK-EU cooperation, French officials, including Macron, have cautioned that Britain cannot "cherry-pick" the benefits of membership without accepting corresponding obligations.

The talks were also expected to cover continued support for Ukraine and developments in the Middle East.

The meeting followed an appearance by the two leaders and the UK's King Charles III at the British Museum on Wednesday evening for a preview of the landmark Bayeux Tapestry exhibition.

Burnham thanked Macron for his help in securing the historic loan, describing it as a gesture of "goodwill, trust and friendship."