Channel migrants crisis grows as France bans Patel from Paris talks

THE diplomatic crisis sparked by the drowning of 27 migrants in the Channel escalated today when France told Priti Patel she was “no longer invited” to Paris for emergency talks.

French ministers reacted furiously to a public letter released by Boris Johnson which set out five steps he thinks both sides should take to tackle the situation. In his letter, the Prime Minister said the two countries needed to “go further and faster together” to deal with the crisis of people attempting to reach Britain in small boats.

The Home Secretary had been due to arrive in the country on Sunday to speak with her French counterpart Gerald Darmanin, the Interior Minister, in Paris. But a statement released by the Interior Ministry today said: “We consider

the British Prime Minister’s public letter unacceptable and contrary to our discussions between counterparts.

“Therefore, Priti Patel is no longer invited on Sunday to the inter-ministerial meeting whose format will be: France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany and European Commission.”

French President Emmanuel Macron, who had warned the British Government not to “politicise” the tragedy, said he was “surprised” at Mr Johnson’s letter and that the Prime Minister had not acted “seriously” when releasing it.

The sinking of an inflatable boat on Wednesday marked the largest-ever recorded loss of life by drowning in the Channel since the migrant crisis began.

Seventeen men, seven women — one of whom was pregnant — and three children died when their small dingy

capsized off Calais. In his letter, Mr Johnson outlined the five steps he wanted to see taken to avoid further tragedies, including introducing joint AngloFrench patrols on French beaches.

He wrote: “An agreement with France to take back migrants who cross the Channel through this dangerous route would have an immediate and significant

impact.” Speaking earlier this week during a visit to Croatia, Mr Macron said co-operation and not confrontation was the key to resolving the crisis.

“We are going to ask for extra help from the British because all these men and these women don’t want asylum in France”, he said. “We tell them they’re obviously able to do so, and there are centres in Calais and Dunkirk where they can go, but we’re going to reinforce in fact saving them at sea.”

The French move has marked a sharp deterioration in relations between the two countries, which have already been strained by the migrant crisis in the Channel and a row over fishing licences.

After hearing talks had been called off, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the “only way we can solve this is to work together”.

“I saw the news come through and clearly we will speak to our French neighbours and friends,” he told Times Radio. “I can’t think why anyone wouldn’t want to set up a joint intelligence cell so we can work more closely in real time and I very much hope we will find a route to ensure this can be properly discussed. It can’t be resolved unless we are talking.”