France Tells UK to Stop 'Giving Lessons' on Migrants
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After Brexit, AUKUS, and the most recent fishing row, France chastises the United Kingdom over "giving lessons" on how the French are handling the migrant crisis.
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British PM Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, 2019 (EPA)
France's Interior Minister, Gérald Darmanin, told CNews Channel that "Britain is in no position to be giving lessons to us" when it comes to the refugee crisis that the European country is enduring.
He continued to say that Britain "should stop using us as a punch-ball in their domestic politics."
A record number of migrants have crossed the French coast through the English Channel to reach England, with London accusing Paris of not trying hard enough to control the situation.
Darmanin further accused the British government of being the reason behind why so many migrants wish to cross the English Channel. He also accused British NGOs and activists based in northern France of obstructing the work of French 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.
Furthermore, Darmanin pointed at Britain when it came to the exploitation of women and children, "The smugglers, who organize networks and exploit women and children, are very often based in Britain."
The French Minister argued that one of the reasons behind the influx of migrants is due to cheap labor in Britain, describing them as "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, adding that France is a victim of British politics.
Describing the numbers as "unacceptable", Britain reported that 1,185 migrants have crossed the Channel on Thursday, which broke Wednesday's daily high of 853.
The migrant crisis has only exacerbated the current tensions between the two countries after Brexit, AUKUS, and the most recent fishing row.
Earlier this month, France had threatened to ban all British fishing boats from its ports starting Tuesday, November 2, which is also the deadline for issuing more permits for French boats to operate in UK waters, in addition to increasing checks on UK exports.
