A political crisis in France threatens to derail a planned change in maritime law that would allow French authorities to intercept migrant boats closer to shore, a move seen as crucial for controlling the record-high crossings into the UK.

French Prime Minister François Bayrou announced a confidence vote scheduled for September 8, which is expected to be lost, potentially leading to government resignation and making the law change unlikely to pass soon.

This political turmoil could result in a new government that might not prioritize the maritime law change, instead focusing on austerity measures to address France's high debt and deficit.

The instability in France hampers UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's efforts to combat the rising number of Channel migrant crossings, which have reached a record 28,947 this year.

Despite the political chaos, UK officials claim they have reassurance from France that the law change will eventually proceed, even if the government collapses, though delays remain a concern.

Meanwhile, Nigel Farage has proposed a plan to deport up to 600,000 asylum seekers over five years if his party wins the next UK election, amid criticism from Downing Street.

Any new French government is unlikely to prioritize the maritime law change, instead emphasizing austerity measures to manage France's economic challenges.

Currently, French law bans police from targeting migrant boats once they are on the water unless they call for rescue, limiting intervention rates to 43% this year, which the law change aimed to improve.

In June, the French government approved a law change permitting border police, gendarmes, and coastguard vessels to intercept migrant boats within 300 meters of the shoreline, which UK officials hailed as a 'gamechanger' amid this year's record 28,947 crossings.

The proposed law change would have significantly expanded French authorities' ability to intercept migrant boats, a move seen as vital given the record-high crossings.

However, legal concerns from French government lawyers over international maritime conventions have delayed the law's implementation, and now the ongoing political instability further complicates the process.

France's fragile government situation directly impacts efforts to control small-boat crossings, which are a key concern for UK border security.