He says small boats migrants will be returned to France, in exchange for asylum seekers who have not tried to enter the UK illegally.

The United Kingdom and France are close to a new agreement aimed at preventing tens of thousands of migrants from crossing the English Channel from France in small boats, UK media reported on Thursday.

Paris has agreed to take back individuals who managed to cross the Channel but are not eligible for asylum in the UK. In exchange, London will accept those who qualify for asylum through a legal process.