Britain and France trade diplomatic bars after 27 deaths who drowned trying to cross the channelHome Secretary Priti Patel said it is now up to the French to take action to prevent more such tragedies.
As there was a tussle between countries as to whether more police from Britain should be sent France Patel’s French counterpart Gerald Darminin blamed the ease of illegal work in the UK to attract people, for trying to stop migrant crossings in small boats.
Giving a statement to lawmakers after the deaths of 17 men, seven women and three teenagers on Wednesday, Patel said there was no quick solution to the issue of people demanding to build the crossing, adding that he rejected a UK proposal to have more police. Repeated to send. France.
Responding to a question in the Commons, Patel also supported the view of Tory MP and former Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick, who asked: “Will she agree with me that in the short term we will see more tragedies like this unless We cannot agree. Strategy with France, and is it within the gift of the President of France to end it now?
The Home Secretary replied: “My honorable friend is absolutely right, hence the discussion that took place last night between Prime Minister and President Macron.”
It is understood that Boris Johnson offered more UK officials in northern France when speaking to Emmanuel Macron after the tragedy on Wednesday, but the French president was wary of the idea.
However, a French MP, Pierre-Henri Dumont, who represents Calais, said the idea of deploying more UK police was a “crazy” proposition that he said would “change nothing” along the long coastline.
Speaking separately, Dormain said people aboard small boats were “often attracted” by the UK labor market.
“Clearly, immigration to the UK is badly managed,” he told RTL radio. “English employers use this labor to make things that the English manufacture and consume. We say reform your labor market. Tell the English employers that we want them to be as patriotic as the Conservative government. ,
Patel and Darmanin spoke on Thursday, and Patel was expected to travel to France on Sunday. UK officials and law enforcement personnel were also reportedly on their way to France for talks on Thursday evening.
In the Commons, Labor’s home secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, said part of the solution should be a more secure and legal asylum route to the UK, calling on the government to bring back. dubs scheme For the resettlement of single child refugees in the UK.
Patel replied: “I have actually put an offer on the table, for the first time today, to the French government not on the return agreement, but specifically looking at family reunification and children. This is once again a proposal that I have made in France. I have given my counterpart time and again.”
It was not immediately clear which plan Patel was referring to, with Labor saying the party did not know. NS home Office was contacted for clarification.
Responding to a later question, Patel said the UK had proposed “a very important technology proposal”, including automatic number plate recognition on roads leading to northern French beaches, as well as more UK police, although had no power to make arrests.
“We have also offered to hire more officers – unreasonable because they won’t hire warrant officers – but these are things I will be working on especially now because the status quo cannot be maintained,” Patel said. “I think the French side has a complete understanding of it.”
She continued: “As we mourn those who died in the most appalling circumstances, I hope that the whole household can come together to send a clear message that in this deadly way, one can cross the Channel in a small boat. There is no way to do it, come to our country.”