FRANCE MUST DO MORE WITH OUR MILLIONS TO STOP SMALL BOATS

Priti Patel demands robust action’ after 527 migrants arrive in 48 hours

- Michael Knowlesmore

DAME Priti Patel has demanded France "does more" to justify the "record sums of money" the UK gives to stop small boats coming here.

The former Home By Michael Knowles Secretary warned that evil people smugglers are "thumbing their noses" at London and Paris despite the huge amounts of our taxpayers' cash being ploughed into the fight against the gangs.

Her intervention comes as 527 migrants crossed the Channel to Britain in the last 48 hours.

Writing in today's Daily Express, Dame Priti said: "I do think the French should do a lot more, quite frankly.

"We're paying them record sums of money. While the crossings continue, we need to see the ministerial oversight required with our near neighbour.

"To know there is a fully deliverable plan in place, that France is taking robust action against criminal gangs facilitating this cruelty and that taxpayers' money is delivering the zero-tolerance approach to illegal migration we expect." Between 2014 and the end of the 2022/23 financial year, the UK gave France £232million, with around £147.5million since the small boats crisis began in 2018.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, in a landmark summit with French President Emmanuel Macron in March last year, agreed to pay an extra £478million.

This included £124million in 2023/24, £168million over the next year and £184million in 2025/26. Mr Sunak said the £478million deal will pay for a new detention centre near Dunkirk, an extra 500 officers and more surveillance equipment. The UK is understood to be contributing around £26million to the new facility.