Using Navy ‘an act of war’ say French
MIGRANTS: Sending the Royal Navy into the English Channel to deal with migrant crossings is a “declaration of maritime war”, the mayor of Calais has said.
As more migrants arrived, Natacha Bouchart said that the British Government must take responsibility and called on Priti Patel’s French counterpart to push he issue.
SENDING THE Royal Navy into the English Channel to deal with migrant crossings is a “declaration of maritime war”, the mayor of Calais has said.
Natacha Bouchart said that the British Government must take responsibility and called on Priti Patel’s French counterpart to push them on the issue.
Her fierce words came as more migrants arrived in the UK yesterday – the ninth day in a row.
At least 19 asylum seekers who arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in small boats and were due to be deported yesterday have had their deportations paused after a legal challenge.
Interviewed on a French beach, Ms Bouchart discussed the impact of the migrant crisis on her city.
She was asked about the Home Office’s formal request for military assistance to help tackle migrant crossings.
Ms Bouchart described it as a “declaration of maritime war”.
She said her city should not have to continue to suffer economically and in terms of image and humanitarian reception.
Ms Bouchart said that a financial package was not enough.
She said: “The British Government should take care of its own responsibilities.
“I am waiting for (Minister of the Interior) Gerald Darmanin to make the British stop this vacuum and to push the British Government to make decisions on its migration policy in its own territory.”
More migrants wearing face masks and orange life-jackets were seen coming into Dover port aboard Border Force vessels yesterday.
Border Force and the RNLI continued to be active in the English Channel as they responded to attempted migrant crossings on Wednesday. The Royal Air Force was also providing aerial support for the Border Force for the second time this week, with a Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft flying from Kinloss Barracks, in Scotland, to monitor the situation in the English Channel.
A legal challenge was launched this week in a bid to halt the deportation of a group of asylum seekers who arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel in small boats.
Up to 20 people were due to be put on a charter flight to France and Germany yesterday, according to campaigners. Yesterday, the Duncan Lewis law firm said that the 19 people it was representing had all had their removals deferred by the Home Office, or stayed by a court.
Speaking to reporters in Dover, Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage said: “With all the tough talk and with it happening every day, it’s becoming a bit of a national humiliation.
“Until people know that coming via this route they will not be allowed to stay, they will just keep on coming.”
The British Government should take care of its own responsibilities. Natacha Bouchart, the mayor of Calais.