‘People are dying in our common waters...it’s misery on both sides’
worked together in the past to stop people being smuggled in the backs of lorries. That’s what needs to happen again to stop the small boats.
“It’s in no one’s interests for organised crime to run riot through Northern France and the EU as a whole.”
And Daniel Kawczynski said EU divisions were “no excuse not to agree a common sense deal which would result in illegal arrivals being sent back immediately”.
The Shrewsbury and Atcham MP added: “Eurocrats have the chance to save lives by agreeing a loophole-free repatriation agreement that would put the people smugglers out of business and save lives. They should stop sulking and get cracking.”
A European Commission spokesman said: “As we already said in the past, the European
Commission has no mandate to negotiate a return and re-admission agreement with the UK.” He added that Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, is negotiating with the UK “with the objective of strengthening co-operation on common migration challenges”.
Last week France’s former ambassador to the UK, Sylvie Bermann, said it was “totally delusionary” to expect that “no one will cross the Channel”.
This came as it was revealed the number of migrants stopped by French police has fallen despite a £480million deal to enhance beach patrols.
Only 45.2 per cent were halted from January to mid-august, compared with 45.8 per cent in the same period in 2022.
More than 25,000 small-boat crossings have been made since Mr Sunak became PM, according to Labour analysis.
And Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock said a new “returns deal” is needed.
“The Conservatives have allowed criminal smuggling gangs take hold on Britain’s borders – and Tory incompetence is risking our national security, putting lives at risk, and pounding the public purse for millions every day,” he said.
“Rishi Sunak has fundamentally failed to get a grip and crossings are rocketing on his watch. It’s time for a different approach.
“The Prime Minister must now back Labour’s plan to stop the dangerous crossings by going after the criminal gangs.”
But a Conservative spokesman shot back: “Sir Keir Starmer and his fellow lefty lawyers oppose any and every practical measure to stop the boats. A vote for Labour would be a vote for more boats, more hotels and more pressure on public services.
“Only the Conservatives have made stopping the boats a priority.”