Channel migrants could be sent back to France if the UK agrees to take legitimate asylum seekers, under a mooted new deal.

The UK and France are discussing a “one-for-one” agreement that will allow asylum seekers to join their family members already in the UK.

In return, illegal migrants who have successfully crossed the Channel will be taken back to France.

London and Paris are working on a “pilot scheme” that could later be expanded into an EU-wide deal.

Ministers are under intense pressure to step up efforts to stop small boat crossings, amid a record number so far this year.

“We are in early discussions about a scheme that would see a small number of migrants returned to France in exchange for us accepting others, in line with what we have discussed . . . about prioritising family reunion,” a Home Office source told the Financial Times.

France’s interior ministry confirmed the country was in negotiations with the UK about an agreement to take back some irregular migrants who had crossed the Channel.

It said: “France’s interest is to discourage migrants (and smuggling networks) from attempting to reach the UK from France.”

“It’s a pilot scheme that anticipates a future European agreement, which France strongly supports.

“It is based on a one-for-one principle: for each legal admission under family reunification, there would be a corresponding readmission of undocumented migrants who managed to cross [the Channel].”

Transport minister Lilian Greenwood said on Wednesday that "there are discussions ongoing with the French government" but did not say what a future deal could look like.

Pressed on the returns agreement, Ms Greenwood said: "I can confirm that there are discussions ongoing with the French government about how we stop this appalling and dangerous trade in people that's happening across the English Channel."

She later said that "where people don't have a right to be here, they need to be returned".

Speaking to GB News, Ms Greenwood claimed the previous Conservative government's plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda "delivered absolutely nothing but just cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of pounds".

Asked about there being "no deterrent", she told the broadcaster: "We've come in, we've taken swift action in setting up the Border Security Command.

"We know that there are organised criminal gangs exploiting people who are absolutely desperate, and we are committed to smashing those gangs."

Around 9,000 migrants have crossed the Channel so far this year, up 46% on last year.

French interior minister Bruno Retailleau admitted returning asylum seekers to France would “send a clear message” that could act as a deterrent to those considering risking their lives.

It marks a significant positional shift in Paris, which has previously refused to consider a bilateral migrant deal.

French President Emmanuel Macron has insisted Britain must strike a returns deal with the EU – something the Government has so far refused to do.

Mr Retailleau said: “I do think that there must be an agreement that we can come to, a bilateral agreement between governments.

“Because we see many of those who land on British soil don’t come back. Even when one has crossed the Channel, if one is sent back that will send a clear message.”

French police could start intercepting Channel migrant boats at the end of May, Home Office insiders believe.

Sources believe this will begin when a new specialist policing unit trained in tackling public disorder starts patrolling the coastline.

Mr Retailleau added: “We have to deal with the crossings.

"Up until now, we considered it to be a French doctrine that we would save people on the seas — but that we would take no risk whatsoever.

"So we would accompany the people on the boats.

“I’ve seen a number of videos where the taxi boats come close to the coast to pick up the migrants in water that’s not very deep, and I think that our gendarmes cannot intervene.

"We need to change that doctrine of intervention.”

A UK Home Office spokesperson said: “We are intensifying our collaboration with France and other European countries who face the same challenges by exploring fresh and innovative measures to dismantle the business models of the criminal smuggling gangs.”