A majority of voters support the Government’s new policy aiming to tackle the immigration crisis, a new poll reveals.

When asked whether people arriving in the UK illegally, such as on small boats, should be removed from the UK and blocked from returning in the future, 52% of the public said they agreed.

The People Polling poll for GB News found only 25% disagreed.

Among Conservative Party voters, 83% agreed that people arriving in the UK illegally should be removed from the UK and blocked from returning in the future, whereas only 27% of Labour voters agreed.

When asked whether Rishi Sunak or Keir Starmer can be trusted the most to manage the small boats crisis, 16% said Rishi Sunak, 14% said Keir Starmer while 40% said none of the two leaders could be trusted to manage the small boats crisis.

Commenting on the poll, politics expert Professor Matt Goodwin said: “What this shows is that the core government policy for dealing with the small boats crisis is far more popular than many people think. A majority of voters agree that people who arrive in Britain illegally should be removed from the UK and blocked from returning, which rockets to 83% among Conservative Party voters. This underlines the incentive for Rishi Sunak to turn up the volume on this issue, as it unites his party’s 2019 electorate. Yet while Sunak is now ahead of Starmer when voters are asked who they back, we also find widespread public disillusionment with both left and right on this issue. What this suggests to me is that Sunak will only reap the benefits of this issue if he actually delivers on his policy.”

The findings come as reports suggested Emmanuel Macron will reject any demands from Britain for a returns agreement for cross-Channel migrants amid mounting tensions over mass migration in the EU.

Rishi Sunak will travel to Paris tomorrow for a summit with the French president where they will discuss small boats, Brexit and defence.

Britain hopes to secure a long-term deal with the EU to return illegal immigrants who cross the English Channel. In exchange the UK would accept refugees from the EU.

However, government sources have played down the likelihood of any agreement during the Paris summit amid concerns because it would require EU-wide agreement. They will instead focus on a new deal to increase police patrols on French beaches.