Britons back confrontation with France to stop small boats crisis in blow to Labour

More Britons back standing up to France to curb migrant crossings than deeper cross-Channel cooperation, new polling has revealed.

The bombshell survey, conducted by YouGov, found 41 per cent of Britons believe the UK is more likely to solve the migrant crisis by standing up more forcefully to France.

Meanwhile, 35 per cent suggested pursuing a closer relationship with France to halt small boats.

Labour continues to pay the French authorities hundreds of millions of pounds in an attempt to curb crossings, with the "one-in, one-out" deal supposedly acting as a deterrent to those wanting to make the perilous 21-mile journey.

Reform UK and Tory voters were the most likely to believe it is time to stand up to France.

The figure stood at 79 per cent among those who voted for Reform UK in 2024 and 67 per cent for Conservative supporters.

However, the figure slumped to just 24 per cent among both Labour and Liberal Democrat voters, dropping to 19 per cent among 2024 Green supporters.

Despite Andy Burnham and Sir Keir Starmer pointing out that there has been a 43 per cent drop in small boat crossings compared to this time last year, two-in-five Britons stated they believe there has been an increase in arrivals.

Around one in five said the figure had decreased, with an additional 21 per cent believing the figure remains about the same.

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