French presidential candidate blames UK for small boats crisis

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 09:55 · Archive

Édouard Philippe, a French presidential hopeful, blamed Britain's immigration policies for the small boats crisis and threatened to tear up agreements between the two countries.

Édouard Philippe, former prime minister under President Macron and a French presidential candidate, accused Britain of 'shocking' immigration policies that he blames for the small boats crisis. He said it was 'incoherent' for French authorities to intercept migrants bound for Britain while Labour's policies encouraged them to cross, and accused Britain of responsibility for migrant deaths.

In April, the UK government signed a three-year deal paying France £662 million to help stop migrants launching boats from northern French beaches. This covers roughly half the cost of France's policing operation to intercept migrants, with the rest funded by the French government.

Philippe said that if elected president next year, France would 'significantly review our relationship with Britain'. He vowed to tear up the Touquet treaty, which allows British and French police to conduct border checks in each other's countries, unless Britain tightened its immigration rules and covered the full cost of French policing operations. Through the Touquet agreement, British police currently operate in Calais and other French coastal towns.

How it is being reported

• French presidential candidate blames Britain for small boats crisis in ChannelA French presidential candidate has blamed Britain for the small boats crisis in the Channel as he launched a scathing attack on the country's "shocking" approach to migration. Edouard Philippe declared it is "incoherent" for French authorities to be expected to stop migrants heading to Britain while Labour continues to maintain policies which encourage them to make the perilous crossing. Mr Philippe, who previously served as the French Prime Minister under Emmanuel Macron, vowed to rip up agreements currently in place between Britain and France if London failed to alter its "absurd"…GB News · 5 Nov, 09:36
• French presidential hopeful says UK's 'shocking' immigration policies are to blame for small boats crisis and says situation is 'absurd'Édouard Philippe, prime minister under President Macron, vowed to tear up agreements between Britain and France if the UK didn't change its 'absurd' approach.Daily Mail · 4 Nov, 21:43

In this story: Édouard Philippe · Emmanuel Macron · Shabana Mahmood · Labour · France · Britain · Channel · Dunkirk

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