Sir Keir Starmer's 'one-in, one-out scheme' has no chance of deterring Channel migrants unless it is significantly scaled up, it was claimed today.
The second migrant was successfully deported to France as part of the agreement this morning - only for hundreds more to set off in dinghies from a beach near Calais.
Rob Lawrie, a former soldier who has been speaking to people smugglers for a new podcast, insisted the scheme was too small scale to be a deterrent.
One people smuggler he spoke to suggested 2,000 migrants would have to be returned every week to persuade more from crossing - but even if that happens more would continue to come from France in new bigger boats.
'I was talking to a smuggler in Germany last week who said the UK needs to be sending back at least 2,000 a week - and even if that happened they could send 2,000 more a day the other way,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
