Brexit betrayal fears as Macron's new 'hard link' may hit UK fishermen

Beleaguered is reported to have tried to ambush Sir Keir Starmer ahead of a summit by demanding fishing rights in UK coastal waters in return for access to defence contracts. The French leader, who only barely clung onto power in recent months after disastrous national elections, had seemingly become close to the PM as the pair bonded over their shared support of Ukrainian leader President Volodymyr Zelensky.

However, Mr Macron appears to have launched an 11th-hour offensive on Downing Street before the summit is due to kick off on Monday in London as part of Labour's much-vaunted 'reset' of relations with the . Reports suggest a deal on British access to a major EU defence fund could be on the table on Monday, but arguments over fishing rights and a youth mobility scheme may provide stumbling blocks to an agreement. reports Mr Macron wants a "hard link" between the defence issue and French access to UK waters.

Mr Macron's position appeared to match that of Kaja Kallas, the EU's high representative for foreign affairs, who said work was progressing on a defence deal, but added: "We're not there yet."

The Prime Minister insisted he was "positive" ahead of Monday, while European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said she was "looking forward" to the meeting.

Sir Keir has repeatedly declined to give a "running commentary" on the talks or engage in what he described as "megaphone diplomacy" with the EU. But he told reporters in Tirana on Thursday he was "confident" of making "really good progress into Monday".

He was later seen speaking to Ms von der Leyen inside the summit venue.

The PM is also said to have talked to countries about "return hubs" for failed asylum seekers as part of efforts to crack down on small boats crossing the Channel. It comes after the Prime Minister announced the Government would begin exploring the possibility of sending failed asylum seekers for processing in third countries prior to deportation.

"I've had a number of discussions with all sorts of leaders here today, numerous discussions with numerous leaders, including discussions about return hubs," Sir Keir told reporters at the European Political Community Summit in Tirana, Albania.

He said such hubs were not "a silver bullet in and of themselves", but would be "a very important additional tool in our armoury" combined with other measures to tackle smuggling gangs.

There have been reports that the UK could seek agreements with countries in the Western Balkans. Albania's prime minister has appeared to rule out being a host to the UK scheme, saying the country was "loyal" to its arrangement with Italy.

Sir Keir met North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski on Friday, but a Downing Street readout did not mention any discussion of return hubs. The Prime Minister has pledged to crack down on smuggling gangs that bring people into the UK in small boats, including by targeting criminal networks overseas.

More than 12,000 people have already made the journey this year, putting 2025 on course to be a record year for crossings.