France faces calls to refund cash UK paid to stop migrants after cops waved small boat migrants through on beaches

FRANCE last night faced calls to refund cash paid by the UK to stop the boats as four more migrants died trying to cross the Channel. Politicians branded the funding deal a “waste of money” after the Home Office said yesterday that 752 migrants reached Britain on Wednesday — the most in a day this year. France has faced calls to refund cash paid by the UK to stop the boats (stock image) Credit: PA 752 migrants reached Britain on Wednesday — the most in a day this year Credit: Gary Stone It came as three women died of suspected heart attacks on a crowded migrant dinghy which set off from Dunkirk at 6am yesterday. A French search and rescue team removed the bodies and the boat carried on until a Border Force vessel picked up the others on board. Sign up for The Sun newsletter Thank you! Just hours earlier another migrant, believed to be in his 30s, died as more than 100 people tried to board an inflatable dinghy off Neufchâtel Hardelot, south of Boulogne. Six others were seriously injured, including a one-year-old baby who rescuers said “almost drowned”. The Sun watched repeated launch attempts from beaches including Wimereux and Hardelot where we saw around 60 migrants fighting on a boat stranded just offshore. Others, at least one holding a baby, were trying to push it back into deeper water during the melee. Around a dozen French gendarmes stood and watched the disorder. Reform’s Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said: “The French authorities are waving individuals on to the boats. Enough is enough. Most read in The Sun French police have been waving small boats off French beaches (stock image) Credit: Getty Home Sec Mahmood has signed a £662million agreement with France running until 2029 to tackle Channel crossings (stock image) Credit: PA “We should not be sending any more money to France. We have already said that we wouldn’t just end this arrangement, we’d seek a rebate from the French because we’re clearly being taken for fools.” Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who was at the beach, added: “The Belgians successfully and safely intervene to stop crossings in exactly the same circumstances. The French should too — and if they refuse then Andy Burnham should stop paying any more money. This will be an early test of his leadership.” It came after we questioned on our front page yesterday how the PM could claim Labour’s plan to block illegal migration was “working”. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has signed a £662million agreement with France running until 2029 to tackle Channel crossings. Around £160million will be paid only if crossings fall. The rest will go towards drones, helicopters and almost 1,100 police, intelligence and military officers along the north coast of France. A Home Office spokesman claimed Ms Mahmood’s new payments-by- results deal with France would boost enforcement action on beaches and put people-smugglers behind bars. He said: “It builds on joint work that’s stopped over 46,000 attempted crossings since the election.” 2 comments2