France Calls Itself 'Victim Of British Politics' Amid Migrant Row
France Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin made the remarks
ahead of talks with British counterpart.
Paris: France told Britain on Monday to stop "giving
lessons" on migrants in an increasingly acrimonious row between London and
Paris over the numbers crossing the Channel.
"Britain is in no position to be giving lessons to
us," Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told Cnews television ahead of
talks with his British counterpart Priti Patel later Monday.
Britain "should stop using us as a punch-ball in their
domestic politics," he added.
The longstanding dispute has intensified in the last days
after record numbers of migrants crossed the Channel to reach England from the
French coast, with London accusing Paris of not doing enough to stop them.
The tensions have added to a litany of post-Brexit strains
between Britain and France that also include a dispute over fishing rights that
has threatened to spill over into a full-blown trade war.
In an unusually blunt criticism of France's neighbour, Darmanin
implied it was the fault of the British government that so many migrants wanted
to cross the Channel.
He accused British activists based in northern France around
Calais and Dunkirk of impeding the work of the security forces.
"I will remind my British counterpart that the NGOs
that prevent the police and the gendarmerie from working are largely British
NGOs with British citizens who are on French soil," he said.
And he added: "The smugglers, who organise networks and
exploit women and children, are very often based in Britain."
He also argued that migrants were encouraged to leave for
Britain because its labour market relied in part on "irregular workers
employed at low cost".
"If the British changed their legislation very strongly
-- and they did, but not enough -- people would no longer be in Calais or
Dunkirk" waiting for a chance to cross the Channel, he said.
"We are the victims of British politics. We must not
get this mixed up," he said.
According to British figures, a total of 1,185 migrants
crossed the Channel on Thursday -- a new record that smashed the previous daily
high of 853 -- due to cold but calm weather.
On Friday, three people who tried to cross in a canoe were
reported missing.
Britain has described the figures as "unacceptable."
Source NDTV
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