Overview

• Home Office figures show 1,097 arrivals on Saturday, taking 2025 crossings to 30,100, the highest total at this point in a year since records began.
• Mahmood said the first removals to France under the new bilateral deal would begin imminently, following the pilot’s activation in August.
• Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed military planners are being seconded into border command and that temporary use of Ministry of Defence and other sites is under consideration.
• Ministers are reported to be close to a reciprocal returns arrangement with Germany, building on the France agreement and wider efforts to cut hotel use.
• Refugee charities criticised the expansion of barracks accommodation, and Mahmood will host Five Eyes counterparts in London to coordinate action against people-smuggling.