Andy Burnham praises UK-EU ties in meeting with Emmanuel Macron

Andy Burnham welcomed Emmanuel Macron to Downing Street by calling him “our nearest neighbour and close friend Emmanuel,” as the two leaders opened talks on Channel crossings, defence and the UK-EU relationship.

The meeting is Burnham’s first bilateral talks in Downing Street with a foreign leader since he became prime minister in July. He said the discussions would focus on “shared challenges,” including the rise of so-called mega dinghies used to cross the English Channel illegally.

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shared challenges

The vessels became a particularly visible issue in August, when a 15-metre boat carrying a record 230 migrants was seen heading toward the United Kingdom. The development followed a summer in which the overall number of small-boat arrivals fell to a seven-year low. Conservative politicians have argued that the emergence of larger boats shows the government has failed to “smash the gangs”.

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our nearest neighbour and close friend Emmanuel

Between January 1 and September 1, 2026, 16,513 people crossed the Channel in small boats from France, down 43% from the same period a year earlier. Nearly all people arriving by this route claim asylum, allowing them to remain in the UK while their applications are considered under international law. Small-boat arrivals accounted for 40% of asylum applications between July 2025 and June 2026.

Macron’s visit also marked the loan of the Bayeux Tapestry to the British Museum. He met King Charles at the museum on Wednesday, before the medieval tapestry goes on public display next week. The leaders were also expected to discuss the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, alongside defence and European cooperation.

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smash the gangs