Martin Daubney has branded the leaked UK-France migration plan a "dead duck", dismissing the proposed "one-for-one" deal as a mere "token gesture".
Speaking on GB News, the host fumed about the potential agreement that would see Channel migrants returned to France in exchange for Britain accepting legitimate asylum seekers with family connections in the UK.
The scheme, currently under discussion between London and Paris, represents a significant shift in France's position, which had previously refused to consider a bilateral migrant deal.
Martin explained: "Here's why I think this is a the type of idea that politicians think is a great idea and in the real world, it's a dead duck.
Martin Daubney fumed over the new leaked agreements
GB NEWS
"First of all, it would do nothing to address net migration. It's one in, one out. We don't need any more. That's legal.
"Plenty more round will be plenty more out. Secondly, how many illegal immigrants come to go from Dover to Calais? I'll tell you how many. Zero.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
"So it won't get rid of the pressure on public services. It won't do anything for GDP. It's a token gesture.
"Which politicians, I believe, dress up as a victory. Most people in the Wetherspoons would go. No, not having it."
Political editor Christopher Hope said: "This is a leak. It wasn't meant to be announced today. I've got confirmation from the Home Office.
"I think it could reduce the hotel bills. It means that if you're an economic migrant solely that you're more likely to be removed if you have family membership of family members in the UK, you might be able to stay.
"Again, you go through the process of getting your passport and again, the details haven't been worked out.
"But what is fascinating is we have now got finally France and the UK talking about returns deal. That didn't happen for eight years."
A Home Office source told the Financial Times: "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."
The pilot could potentially be expanded into an EU-wide deal in the future. France's interior ministry confirmed the negotiations, explaining: "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]."
Christopher Hope said that it is a small step forward
GB NEWS
The ministry added: "France's interest is to discourage migrants (and smuggling networks) from attempting to reach the UK from France."
This marks a significant shift in Paris's position, which had previously refused to consider a bilateral returns agreement. French President Emmanuel Macron had previously insisted Britain must strike a returns deal with the EU rather than France directly.
Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood confirmed on Wednesday that "there are discussions ongoing with the French government" but did not elaborate on the details.
When pressed about the returns agreement, she 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 added: "Where people don't have a right to be here, they need to be returned."
