Fury as France makes bombshell admission about £660m migrant deal | World | News

French leaders have admitted a new £660m UK-funded deal will make little difference, saying they have “no solution” to stop migrant boat crossings. Officials responsible for the Channel coastline have openly criticised the £662 million agreement signed at the end of last month, which aims to deploy at least 50 riot-trained officers on beaches and boost security.

Alain Boonefaes, deputy mayor in charge of security in Gravelines, told La Voix Du Nord: “The money of the British will be used to secure a sector but we only move the pile of sand. It starts from everywhere. It is a subject that must be dealt with at the global level. We have no solution. There will always be an influx of people who want to join the UK.”

Antoine Benoit, mayor of Audresselles, nine miles west of Calais, was equally dismissive. He said: “We have gendarmes driving all night – it will not change anything.”

He added that he was “disillusioned” and complained of no proper political response, stating: “We are not listened to.”

The remarks are unlikely to impress British taxpayers and politicians, given more than 200,000 migrants have crossed since records began in 2018. The milestone was reached this month following a fresh wave of arrivals, bringing the historical total to 200,013.

However, data reveals that crossings so far this year are tracking at a lower level than previous years. There have been 7,380 arrivals recorded, marking a 36% drop compared to the same point last year, and a 16% decrease from two years ago.

Smugglers have packed an average of 64 migrants per vessel to counter increased beach enforcement.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said the comments proved the payments were ineffective.

He said: “This confirms what we have known all along.

“Shabana Mahmood has handed over half a billion pounds of our money to the French, most of it without performance conditions – and it will make no difference whatsoever.

“Last year the French stopped barely a third of embarkation attempts, and even then the illegal immigrants were released to try again the next day.

“I have even witnessed with my own eyes French police ushering illegal immigrants on to buses headed towards the beaches.”

Mr Philp renewed calls for Britain to leave the ECHR so illegal arrivals can be deported within a week.

He said: “That is the Conservative plan, but the Labour government is too weak to do it.”

A Dover fisherman said he had seen little real effort from the French.

He said: “It won’t surprise me if there is another 200,000.

“I see the French navy escort the migrants over. There is no deterrent. If they wanted to, I think they could stop it tomorrow. But they don’t.