A group of French mayors wants to rip up the Channel migrant deal with the UK and end British immigration checks at Calais.
They are demanding an end to the long-standing Le Touquet agreement and are blaming the UK’s “flawed asylum system” for the ongoing migrant crisis.
The coalition of local leaders in northern France argues that both migrants and local residents face an “intolerable situation” driven by the appeal of crossing the Channel to live and work in Britain.
Despite a £500million deal between Rishi Sunak and France to fund police patrols on French beaches, Channel crossings have continued to rise, surpassing 33,500 this year.
Migrants walk down road in FranceGB NewsThe Le Touquet agreement, signed in 2003, has allowed British Border Force officials to examine travellers’ documents on French soil before they board ferries to the UK for the past two decades.
The arrangement has come under intense scrutiny as Channel crossings continue to rise, with numbers up more than 20 per cent compared to last year.
The mayors are calling for the UK to establish legal routes to Britain, a proposal that Sir Keir Starmer’s Government has already rejected.
Initial cooperation between the two nations had shown promise, with early reports indicating a one-third reduction in successful crossing attempts.
Sony Clinquart, mayor of Grand-Fort-Philippe, condemned the current situation as hypocritical, stating: “We’re in the midst of hypocrisy: we’re talking about a border, but it doesn’t exist because the British authorities accept all the migrants who arrive.”
Guy Allemand, mayor of Sangatte, criticised ineffective surveillance measures, saying: “We’ve had video surveillance cameras installed, paid for by the British, to discourage people smugglers, but they’ve never worked.”
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Migrants waiting on motorway in FrancePACalais mayor Natacha Bouchart expressed her frustration more bluntly: “We’ve got to get to grips with the British, that’s enough.”
The mayors warn that without urgent action, the crisis will only worsen.
The French mayors have outlined several specific demands to address the crisis.
They are calling for the appointment of an immigration prefect and the creation of a dedicated transport police force to “reassure” the local population.
The coalition also wants to establish humanitarian reception centres outside the coastal areas to manage migrants before they reach the coast.
Additional resources have been requested, with mayors demanding reimbursement for expenses their municipalities have incurred while handling the situation.
A rescue took place off the French coast after a migrant boat sunk
These proposals form part of their comprehensive approach to reform the current system, which they argue has failed both local communities and migrants.
In response to the criticism, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper acknowledged the need for stronger action on illegal working in Britain.
Labour claims to have increased immigration enforcement visits by 20 per cent since taking power.
The government has also reported a 20 per cent rise in returns of migrants with no right to remain in the UK.
Since July, approximately 10,000 individuals have been removed from the country.