Édouard Philippe, a prominent figure in French politics and former Prime Minister under President Emmanuel Macron, has directly blamed the United Kingdom's immigration policies for the ongoing crisis involving migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats.
Philippe, who is considering a presidential run, stated that the UK's approach is "shocking" and "absurd." He asserted that it is "incoherent" for French authorities to intercept these crossings while British policies, according to him, encourage migrants to make the perilous journey. He further claimed that the UK's policies are responsible for the regular deaths of migrants attempting the crossing.
France and the UK have a bilateral agreement, the Touquet Treaty, which allows border checks to be carried out in both countries. Under a deal signed in April, the UK committed £662 million over three years to France to help police its northern beaches, from where most small boat crossings originate. This payment covers roughly half the cost of the French policing operation.
Philippe indicated that if he were to become president, France would "significantly review" its relationship with Britain. He vowed to pull out of the Touquet treaty unless Britain agrees to pay the full cost of Channel policing and tightens its own immigration rules. He characterized the current situation as "unacceptable," arguing that the UK's funding is insufficient given France's expenses and that Britain maintains policies which draw migrants across the Channel.
Philippe described the UK's treatment of migrants as "absurd," noting that Britain grants residency rights or asylum to nearly two-thirds of those arriving by small boat. He added that even those ordered to leave often remain in the UK, creating a situation he called "extremely shocking" and a "burden on France."
He also suggested the European Union should adopt a similar stance to Britain, implying that the UK's perceived failure to regulate immigration is contributing to issues in neighboring Belgium and the Netherlands.
Recent figures show a surge in Channel crossings. Between Thursday and Sunday of the previous week, 1,670 people made the journey, ending a three-week pause. This brought the total for the year to over 10,000, a daily average that, while slightly lower than during Sir Keir Starmer's premiership, is higher than under previous Conservative governments. The UK Home Office has recently unveiled immigration rule changes, which have reportedly been softened following internal party debate. Separately, Conservative officials criticized the current government's approach, advocating for stricter measures including deportations and potential withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights to address the crisis.