Britain is an ‘El Dorado’ for migrants because of its ‘soft approach’ to illegal workers, claims Calais mayor

The mayor of Calais has accused Britain of “hypocritical” behaviour over the migrant crisis, calling the country an “El Dorado”.

Natacha Bouchart said France and Britain should confront each other over illegal migrants because of the laxity in tackling black market labour.

Bouchart said France would have to confront Britain if it stopped the Channel crossing, which killed at least 12 migrants earlier this week.

She added that France “suffers” from hypocrisy and that talks should take place between London and Paris.

$\u200Natacha Bouchart, Mayor of Calais$

Natacha Bouchart, Mayor of Calais

Referring to employment laws in England, she said: “We suffer from this hypocrisy.

“At some point we will have to confront this government” to avoid “fifty years from now we will still be at the same level and people will want to go to England because it is still an El Dorado.”

Mayor of Wimereux, the coastal town where migrants were filmed leaving for the UK, Jean-Luc Dubaële said: “Unfortunately, every day is like this for us. The smugglers, a criminal network, persist in sending people to their deaths in the Channel. It is really unacceptable, scandalous. And it is high time that a lasting solution is found with Britain.

“Let’s ask ourselves the question: Why do they want to go to Britain? Because there is something that draws them there… they can apply for asylum in France. (But) nobody is asking for the right to asylum in France. They all want to go to Britain. So it is high time that we sit down with the new British government.”

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

$\u200Natacha Bouchart said the two countries need a 'showdown'$

Natacha Bouchart said the two countries need a ‘confrontation’

About 257 migrants arrived in the UK on Wednesday after crossing the Channel, a day after 12 people died in the perilous crossing.

A pregnant woman and six children were among those killed in what has been described as the deadliest Channel crossing tragedy this year, when their boat was “torn apart” and sank off the coast of northern France at Cap Gris-Nez on Tuesday.

Five boats arrived on Wednesday, averaging 51 people per boat. People believed to be migrants were pictured being brought ashore in Dover, Kent, amid calm sea conditions. The cumulative number of small boat arrivals in 2024 now stands at a provisional total of 21,977.

That is three percent more than last year at this time, when the total stood at 21,372, but 20 percent lower than in 2022, when the total stood at 27,409.

There have been 2,683 arrivals over the past nine days, from 27 August to 4 September – the highest number in a nine-day period so far this year. There were 29,437 arrivals in all of 2023, down 36 per cent from a record 45,774 in 2022.

Add to lightbox Migrant Channel Crossing Incidents A group of people believed to be migrants are taken to Dover, Kent

More than 8,000 migrants have crossed the Channel since Labour came to power two months agoPA

Sir Keir Starmer’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister is shocked by the horrific deaths across the Channel and we reiterate what the Home Secretary said yesterday, namely that this is a painful reminder of the violence these gangs use to exploit vulnerable people.

“We have no plans to be part of an EU asylum programme, but we will continue to work with European partners to stop people smuggling and defeat these criminal gangs.”