Immigration compliance minister Tom Pursglove has said the prime minister has renewed previous offers to deploy British police and Border Force officers to mount joint patrols with the French in order to stop migrant boats from attempting to cross the Channel.

Mr Pursglove told BBC 2’s Newsnight programme yesterday: “The prime minister and President Macron have had exactly that discussion this evening. That is something that I am very keen to see happen.”

“It is the case that in the past we have offered to host and to help with joint patrols. I think that could be invaluable in helping to address this issue. I really do hope that the French will reconsider that offer.”

The Prime Minister spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday evening following a migrant boat accident yesterday afternoon in the English Channel, in which as many as 33 people are reported to have died, including a little girl.

Around 10 other migrants have died in recent weeks attempting this journey.