EU diplomats dismiss Keir Starmer's Channel boats plan as 'delusional'

EU diplomats have dismissed Keir Starmer's 'delusional' plan for a migrants return deal to fix the Channel boats crisis.

Brussels sources pointed out that the bloc's internal negotiations over a burden-sharing deal had been going for seven years with 'no end in sight', and there was no chance it would 'rescue' the Labour leader.

The blunt response came after Sir Keir finally set out his proposals for addressing the small boats issue during a trip to The Hague.

He confirmed he was willing to discuss taking an annual quota of asylum seekers in return for a returns agreement that would allow Britain to send back some Channel migrants.

But during a round of interviews to promote his blueprint, Sir Keir refused to say how many asylum seekers he would be willing to accept, insisting it would be a matter for negotiation.