If the Americans think the American-Mexican border is bad, they want to take a look at the British-French border. For years, now, migrants have gathered in the far north of France to try and get over to Britain. The notorious Sangatte refugee camp saw riots in 2001 and 2002. But, in recent months, the situation in places like Calais has got much worse, with a growing camp full of migrants desperate to get into Britain. And, on Monday night, 1,500 migrants stormed the Channel Tunnel, with one being killed.
What to do about it? Ukip, of course, have a sensible solution....
We need to close down Calais until the French get a grip
Closing the border with Calais is only the start of what needs to be done
Migrants queue to receive their daily food distribution at the Jules Ferry centre for migrants Photo: Francois Mori/AP
By Steven Woolfe, Ukip MEP for North West England and the party's migration spokesman
29 Jul 2015
The Telegraph
71 Comments
A month ago, I visited the burgeoning migrant camp in Calais for the second time in six months. On my first visit back in December, I witnessed the opening of the official camp filled with tents for food distribution, medical services, and one for power points to charge mobile phones and computers.
The British Government has donated £11 million to the new migrant camp - that’s £11 million of taxpayer’s money. Now, I think I speak for the vast majority of people in Britain when I say I'd prefer that £11 million was spent on proper border controls in Calais.
On my second visit, I saw this camp was now full with women and children and functioning how it should be. But disturbingly a new camp - or to better describe it, a shanty town - had developed outside with up to 4500 male migrants. I spoke with dozens of these unfortunate men, and a clear majority had intentions of coming to the UK. They all cited jobs and houses as the primary pull factor to the UK, stating that France does not provide that.
I spoke to many lorry drivers on my visits and they all said the same thing: they don’t feel safe in this current situation and that isn’t right. Our lorry drivers should expect the basic rights of feeling safe while working, sometimes even fearing for their lives, with reports of some drivers being threatened with knives.
It’s not the migrants who feel the full force of the law if they’re caught either, lorry drives face a £2,000 fine if illegal stowaways are found in their vehicles. Most lorry drivers fear being fined through no fault of their own. Something has to change.
A radical response is required to force the French to take action in Calais. It’s evident that current route we’re going down isn’t working. New, robust solutions are needed.
Here is my 5 point plan for solving the emergency crisis in Calais:
More than a dozen migrants gathering near lorries in Calais, France, desperate to get to Britain (Reuters)
The situation in Calais is becoming graver by the day. With 1,500 migrants charging the Eurotunnel on Monday night, the escalation of the problem is now visible for all to see. This 5-point plan would remind the European elite, who pontificate on taking action on the emergency, ongoing crisis in Calais to take immediate action now. Enough is enough and the UK must act.
The difficulty we face is that none of these migrants have identification. This is a problem we must face head on and overcome. If they’re allowed to come to the UK with no identification, then we put our nation at a serious risk of letting in possible criminals to Britain.
These measures are tough. The short term closure of the Dover – Calais route will cause some disturbance to holiday plans and some businesses may face minor disruption. However, it will send out a powerful message to the French authorities and that’s what’s needed in this current situation.
It’s now becoming clearer by the day that the French authorities are under staffed and under resourced putting the safety of British holiday makers and truckers at risk.
If my first 4 points are not considered and enacted, then the UK government is left with no option but to close the border with Calais, until immediate action is taken.
The safety of British holiday makers and truckers should be the government’s primary priority. We must isolate it and then deal with the issue in hand.
Steven Woolfe MEP is Ukip's migration spokesman
We need to close down Calais until the French get a grip - Telegraph
What to do about it? Ukip, of course, have a sensible solution....
We need to close down Calais until the French get a grip
Closing the border with Calais is only the start of what needs to be done
Migrants queue to receive their daily food distribution at the Jules Ferry centre for migrants Photo: Francois Mori/AP
By Steven Woolfe, Ukip MEP for North West England and the party's migration spokesman
29 Jul 2015
The Telegraph
A month ago, I visited the burgeoning migrant camp in Calais for the second time in six months. On my first visit back in December, I witnessed the opening of the official camp filled with tents for food distribution, medical services, and one for power points to charge mobile phones and computers.
The British Government has donated £11 million to the new migrant camp - that’s £11 million of taxpayer’s money. Now, I think I speak for the vast majority of people in Britain when I say I'd prefer that £11 million was spent on proper border controls in Calais.
On my second visit, I saw this camp was now full with women and children and functioning how it should be. But disturbingly a new camp - or to better describe it, a shanty town - had developed outside with up to 4500 male migrants. I spoke with dozens of these unfortunate men, and a clear majority had intentions of coming to the UK. They all cited jobs and houses as the primary pull factor to the UK, stating that France does not provide that.
It’s not the migrants who feel the full force of the law if they’re caught either, lorry drives face a £2,000 fine if illegal stowaways are found in their vehicles. Most lorry drivers fear being fined through no fault of their own. Something has to change.
A radical response is required to force the French to take action in Calais. It’s evident that current route we’re going down isn’t working. New, robust solutions are needed.
Here is my 5 point plan for solving the emergency crisis in Calais:
- The UK should deploy British troops to treble border staff in Calais.
- French troops must be deployed to Calais to support the under-resourced authorities.
- UK ports should prepare to filter traffic to Le Havre, Dieppe and Ostend.
- We should plan to take any illegal migrants found in the UK back into France
- If the French fail to protect the border, we should close Calais. It would be reopened when the situation is eased.
More than a dozen migrants gathering near lorries in Calais, France, desperate to get to Britain (Reuters)
The situation in Calais is becoming graver by the day. With 1,500 migrants charging the Eurotunnel on Monday night, the escalation of the problem is now visible for all to see. This 5-point plan would remind the European elite, who pontificate on taking action on the emergency, ongoing crisis in Calais to take immediate action now. Enough is enough and the UK must act.
The difficulty we face is that none of these migrants have identification. This is a problem we must face head on and overcome. If they’re allowed to come to the UK with no identification, then we put our nation at a serious risk of letting in possible criminals to Britain.
These measures are tough. The short term closure of the Dover – Calais route will cause some disturbance to holiday plans and some businesses may face minor disruption. However, it will send out a powerful message to the French authorities and that’s what’s needed in this current situation.
It’s now becoming clearer by the day that the French authorities are under staffed and under resourced putting the safety of British holiday makers and truckers at risk.
If my first 4 points are not considered and enacted, then the UK government is left with no option but to close the border with Calais, until immediate action is taken.
The safety of British holiday makers and truckers should be the government’s primary priority. We must isolate it and then deal with the issue in hand.
Steven Woolfe MEP is Ukip's migration spokesman
We need to close down Calais until the French get a grip - Telegraph
