Boris Johnson’s plan to put the military in charge of tackling migrant boat crossings will help people smugglers, the former head of the royal navy has warned.
Lord West of Spithead said giving the navy command over the operation in the English Channel would backfire by providing a more “effiient conduit” for the work of traffikers.
Labour also accused Mr Johnson of trying to “distract” from Partygate after Priti Patel, the home secretary, confirmed yesterday that she had asked the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to put the royal navy in charge of the operation to police migrant boats.
Sources told The Independent that initial talks with MoD offiials about a new role in the migrant crossing crisis began only around 12 days ago – as Mr Johnson continued to face mounting questions about parties at No 10.
Lord West said: “This will not stop the migrant crisis. Picking them up at sea does not solve the problem of not giving them back. We don’t have an agreement with France to give them back yet.”
The peer, Britain’s first sea lord between 2002 and 2006, added: “All you’re acting as is a very effiient conduit for people smugglers, with migrants being picked up nice and safely by a royal navy warship.”
Defence offiials also told The Independent there would be disquiet if the new duties became a long-term responsibility, although it is accepted that there is a need to help on a shortterm basis. “People who would want to do that would join Border Force, not the navy,” said one offier.
This story is from the January 18, 2022 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the January 18, 2022 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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