GB News presenter Tom Harwood has erupted in frustration after revelations that French authorities will only push back empty small boats in the English Channel, questioning the effectiveness of the policy with a blunt: “What’s the point?”
The outburst followed a report from GB News Home and Security Editor Mark White, who disclosed that French maritime police, under a UK-France agreement, are prioritising interventions on unoccupied “taxi boats” used by smugglers—while avoiding action on overcrowded vessels due to safety risks.
The deal, announced in July 2025 by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and President Emmanuel Macron, aimed to target these “taxi boats” that collect migrants wading in shallow waters near the coast. However, French officers rarely intervene on loaded dinghies, citing dangers to both police and passengers.
Mark White told GB News: “We were told this would allow the French maritime police to push back the small boats. It’s not happened. And it doesn’t look like, if it does happen, the French are now saying they’ll only do it with empty boats.”
Harwood responded angrily: “What’s the point in pushing a boat back if that boat is empty? Who is that helping?”
White explained the French position: “Well, the French say they’re doing it on safety grounds, because you don’t want to push a boat back that might capsize, even though it’s in knee-high water.”
Harwood retorted: “It beggars belief.”
White added: “Listen, I share your frustration. It is just absolute and utter nonsense. You either do this pushback policy or just don’t bother.”
GB News host Dawn Neesom highlighted broader concerns: “The frustration is palpable. But the serious side of this—many of these are undocumented young men, and we know many of them go on to commit assaults on women. So the Government is saying we’re looking after women and girls, meanwhile we’ve got lots of young men coming across the Channel. We don’t know who they are. I’m not saying they’re all sexist thugs or anything, but many of them come from countries that literally sell women into slavery.”
The discussion comes amid renewed surges in crossings, with over 700 arrivals reported in mid-December following a brief lull, pushing the 2025 provisional total past 40,000—making it the second-highest year on record after 2022’s 45,755.
Critics argue the Labour Government’s strategies, including benefit restrictions and crackdowns on illegal work, have yet to stem the flow, while French authorities are accused of using safety concerns as cover for limited action.