SIR KEIR STARMER crossed the Channel today as part of his controversial plan to stop refugees going in the opposite direction.

The Labour leader dashed to Paris for talks with French President Emmanuel Macron focused on stopping “small boats” migrants as well as preparing the ground for Brexit backsliding if he secures office.

Sir Keir has proposed to stop the small boats by treating their organisers as “terrorists” and slammed any dissenting opinion as “un-British.” 

His suggested deal, involving accepting a number of asylum-seekers via the European Union, will depend on French co-operation.

He has also pledged to renegotiate Britain’s exit deal from the EU to secure closer trade ties.  However, a leading Brexit think-tank warned today that there would be a political price to pay.

A UK in a Changing Europe statement said: “The kinds of agreements Labour is seeking often entail long, technical negotiations which can take years to conclude. 

“They would demand significant administrative resources at a time when the party would have many other priorities.

“There could also be political costs to signing up to agreements which require continuous, ongoing alignment with EU regulations over which the UK will have no say.”

Sir Keir built his political reputation as an intransigent supporter of EU membership, weaponising the issue to undermine then-leader Jeremy Corbyn. 

Labour’s leader has come under pressure lately from “remain” factions to move towards undoing Brexit, although he has ruled out rejoining the EU.

Sir Keir was accompanied by shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and shadow foreign secretary David Lammy.