Camp co-operation has fine words, but may be short-lived

There is nothing like a joint statement between two governments for giving the impression that a lot is being done when, in reality, not much is.

So it was with the statement issued by the French and UK governments after Home Secretary Amber Rudd and her counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve met to discuss the migrant camp in Calais and what to do.

Both parties, we were told, had “reaffirmed their commitment to closer co-operation”.

On the situation in Calais, the two said: “We are committed to working together to strengthen the security of our shared border, to strongly diminish the migratory pressure.”

And on the specific action? In the coming months, the two announced they would “continue our close co-operation to resolve the situation in the Calais region by further securing the ports and tunnel.”

With so much close co-operation, it is going to be hard to prise the two apart.

Odd though it may seem, as British politicians argue about the merits of the joint border arrangements in Calais, we may have to wait until next year to find out whether they will continue.

With French presidential elections coming up, the issue is dominating the campaign and candidates from the right are queuing up to denounce the treaty and pledging to rip it up.

Any agreement reached this week to maintain the treaty could prove short-lived.

Many expect there is going to be a change of government in France in 2017.

Still with French politics, this week will see a visit by the Mayor of Calais, Natacha Bouchart, to Ashford on what is being trailed as a “charm offensive” to woo Kent businesses post-brexit.

It’s what sports commentators might label a “tough ask” given the backdrop of the debate about what to do about the Calais jungle camp and hauliers coming under threat from gangs trying get migrants across the channel.

The Ukip leadership campaign is, rather surprisingly, not exactly providing many moments of drama.

Perhaps the low-key tone says something about those vying for the job.

Favourite Diane James, who went to school in Kent,

‘It’s what sports commentators might label a tough ask, given the debate on the Calais jungle’

is making a virtue of her key pledge – of not setting out any policy pledges.

Instead, she would in her first 100 days “review and up-date” the party’s 2015 general election manifesto.

Not exactly scintillating compared to the provocative stuff that Nigel Farage used to come out with.

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