Uproar as French tell Britain: You must pay for migrant crisis

FRENCH President Francois Hollande yesterday demanded that Britain should help manage the Calais migrant crisis – and expect to pay for it.

He said the notorious Jungle squatter camp would be “completely and definitively” shut down by the end of the year but the UK cannot be “released from its responsibilities to France”.

The socialist head of state was “determined” that the UK should “play its part” in the humanitarian effort being carried out by France – hinting that British taxpayers must help to foot the bill.

Britain has already committed around £85million to reinforce security in the Calais region. Work has started on a barrier dubbed the “Great Wall of Calais”.

The 13ft-high concrete barrier, stretches for more than half a mile along the motorway to the port.

Reports suggest that the project will cost £1.9million and is being funded as part of a £17million cash injection from the UK unveiled in March. Last year Britain said an extra £7million would be provided to increase security at the Channel Tunnel railhead at Coquelles on top of £12million already pledged.

Mr Hollande provoked a furious response over the Channel.

Dover MP Charlie Elphicke said: “Britain has already paid millions for walls and fences in Calais. Yet the French keep asking for more. Our taxpayers’ money should be spent on more border security at Dover and in the English Channel.

“Francois Hollande says he will dismantle the Calais camp but we’ve heard it all before.

“Hollande needs to make sure the people from the Jungle are returned to their home nations to end this crisis once and for all.”

Conservative MP Tim Loughton, interim chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Committee, said: “It has largely been down to considerable expenditure by the UK Border Force, Eurotunnel and ferry companies that more people have not embarked on the hazardous journey into the UK, while French authorities have effectively all too often turned a blind eye.

“President Hollande now has the cheek to say that the UK is not pulling its weight in assisting with a humanitarian crisis in France, which is entirely of its own making.”

Last night Downing Street hit back insisting Britain had done a “huge amount” to help deal with the migrant situation in France by investing tens of millions of pounds. The Home Office said: “The dismantling of the camp in Calais is a matter for the French government.”

A spokesman added: “We remain committed to protecting our shared border in Calais and are working closely with the French to do so.”

Mr Hollande and Mrs May affirmed a shared commitment to keeping border controls in Calais in July but the issue will continue to attract scrutiny in the lead-up to next year’s French presidential election.

His conservative rival Nicolas Sarkozy wants to see migrants sent direct to Britain.

Mr Hollande made his first visit to Calais as president yesterday and said the Brexit vote had not released the UK from its responsibilities to France.

Half of the Calais camp was dismantled in March but its population has since doubled to 10,000.