Readers fed up with funding France while borders stay broken
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments.
Regarding your front page story about 1,194 migrants crossing the Channel in a single day, the highest number this year (Metro, Mon).
Britain's borders have been broken for years. It's about time we stopped paying France £480,000 per day for them doing nothing to stop the 'small boats'.
This money could be used very much better here at home for many projects.
The money already sent should also be reclaimed, or else there must be some concrete agreement that the French will uphold with guarantees in place. Rob, York
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Former Conservative home secretary James Cleverly and Reform leader Nigel Farage blame the government for the number of Channel crossings.
The number of asylum seekers arriving across the Channel has significantly increased since 2023.
Britain left the EU on January 31, 2020. Under the so-called Dublin Convention, European law had allowed Britain to send requests to other mainland countries to take charge of or to take back asylum applications. Britain no longer has the power to ask France, or any other mainland European country to take back asylum seekers.
Both Mr Cleverly and Mr Farage advocated we leave the EU and the protection afforded by The Dublin Convention. Fi O'Connor, Broadstairs (On The English Channel)
Robert James (MetroTalk, Tue) is correct to say that there will always be problems on the railway network, whether it is government or privately operated.
What sticks in most people's throats the most, however, is individuals creaming off huge profits and bonuses at the expense of a shoddy service. As we have seen with the water debacle.
It just seems worse somehow when it is privately owned.
It's a bit like staying at a B&B and being told there is no breakfast and the hot water and heating is intermittent, only to then see the owner five minutes later in the hallway with their holiday cases packed. Ta-ra, I'll send you a postcard. Dec, Essex
Mount Etna has had a bit of an eruption with a lot of noise, smoke and a 'code red' warning. There is certainly the potential for far more destruction and without any real warning.
Etna is nature's version of Donald Trump, a lot of hot air and very destructive with no way to control what comes next.
Etna could keep erupting on and off forever, whereas Trump only has about three-and-a-half years to cause damage – but that might still be enough time to mess up the US, its economy, its medical and education system along with many other aspects of the country. Dennis Fitzgerald, Melbourne, Australia
The letter from Stephen Spark (MetroTalk, Mon) attacking Elon Musk for his cuts to US government spending cannot go unchallenged.
People like him jump on the bandwagon of narrow-minded hatred toward a certain individual, oblivious of the bigger picture.
They don't understand that sometimes drastic measures are required if something is to change… for the better! More Trending
Mr Musk did exactly that. There will always be casualties as a consequence but that's the sad reality of getting out of the bad position and into a better one.
Would it have been better, as Mr Spark seems to suggest, for the US to continue with the terrible level of money being wasted? I also find it disingenuous when people like him say things regarding Mr Musk and the chainsaw – used as a prop to represent the amount of money he was going to chop from the state budget. What's wrong with a little larking about?
Also, the matter of the 'Nazi salute' given by Mr Musk at the Trump rally is nothing short of pathetic – the man was merely giving thanks to everyone by indicating 'to everyone' with a common arm and hand gesture. Suddenly that's a 'Nazi salute' by Mr Musk haters. No, it wasn't! There's a lack of intelligence going on there – and unreasonable hatred.
I'm not a great fan of Mr Musk but I don't loathe him either. I look at things rationally, unlike some other people. It would behove them to do the same and society would be all the better for it. Richard Row, Harborne
MORE: The Metro daily cartoon by Guy Venables
MORE: Three Brits face firing squad for 'smuggling cocaine inside Angel Delight sachets'
MORE: Soldier was 'degraded' by superior officers before being found dead in barracks
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
8 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Sex assault horror across Paris after PSG Champions League win: Shocking footage shows huge mob surround terrified women's car and smash window as other victims describe sexual violence
Violent riots gripped the French capital on Saturday night after Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League win - with horrifying videos and testimony revealing how women were targeted by thuggish football fans. Shocking video has shown how a huge mob attacked a pair of young women, screaming at them, climbing on their car and smashing its windows in as they tried to drive through the city. The terrified women are seen cowering as the hordes of men intimidated them. Video of the onslaught cuts out shortly after a window is smashed in, making it unclear what happened next. Some 500 people were arrested, two people died and almost 200 were injured during the riots, according to France's interior ministry. Shops were vandalised and looted, cars and motorbikes set on fire and people were stabbed during the Paris riots, with violence also seen elsewhere in France. Predominantly male crowds, large parts of which were buzzing off a mixture of alcohol and PSG's win, took over the streets, with women reporting a hostile atmosphere across the city. A Parisian student called Dounia, who went out with friends to celebrate the victory on the banks of the Seine, described how she was sexually and verbally assaulted by visibly drunk PSG supporters. 'A man in his forties approached me, holding a flask of alcohol. I saw him approaching and suddenly I felt his hand grab my buttocks,' the 18-year-old told Le Parisien. She told the outlet that she is still in shock days later. 'It was his reaction when I turned around that was the most telling,' the young woman said. 'He insulted me and pushed me violently, before walking away with his friend.' TikTok creator Lily-Rose described feeling 'scared for my life' as she cycled through the city shortly after the game finished. She described having shards of glass bottles thrown at her and feeling as though she would be knocked off her bike at any moment. 'Luckily, they landed on the bike frame and I wasn't hit,' she sighs in a TikTok video. 'My evening was ruined. It was supposed to be a moment of euphoria and joy, but that didn't take into account this problematic and misogynistic behavior,' she added. 'When you see the way you behave, it's scary, it's terrifying. I'm shaking, I'm traumatized, I thought I was going to die several times.' Other female PSG fans hoping to celebrate their team's success said they were unable to spend any more than fifteen minutes in the crowd before being assaulted. 'We had two hands on our asses and one on our breasts,' one of the friends reportedly said. 'We want to party but we can't.' Footage of the horrific attacks was widely condemned online, but also met with more misogynistic comments. 'Why were you out?' men on Instagram, X and TikTok responded to women's complaints. While many shops on the Champs-Elysees were protected ahead of the Champions League final, some did not escape damage Other vile comments read: 'You're a girl and you're going to celebrate PSG on the Champs-Elysées, that counts in the bodycount ' and 'The girls who are going to be on the Champs-Elysées on the 31st, we already know why you're there'. 'You're a woman and you're going to Paris when you know it's going to be chaos whether we win or lose. Are you stupid?' another person said. Dounia said the responses angered her even more, and that women should be 'able to go out into the street freely, whether there's a sporting event or not.' Statistics show that there are 114,000 sexual assaults are recorded in France every year - equivalent to one every four minutes. Of the victims, 85 per cent are women, and nearly 50 per cent of French women say they feel unsafe in public spaces. Speaking to PSG players at the Élysée Palace on Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the 'unacceptable' violence seen on the streets the night before. 'Nothing can justify what has happened in recent hours, the violent clashes are unacceptable. We will pursue, we will punish, we will be relentless.'
South Wales Argus
21 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Keir Starmer to meet head of Nato amid speculation over spending commitments
The Prime Minister is likely to raise the question of how 'we can ensure all allies meet their stated pledges in support of our collective defence', when he meets secretary general Mark Rutte on Monday, Downing Street has said. Mr Rutte is thought to be pushing for members to commit to spending 3.5% on the military, with a further 1.5% on defence-related measures. As well as his talks with Sir Keir, the former Dutch prime minister will visit Sheffield Forgemasters with Defence Secretary John Healey, and give a speech at Chatham House. 'The two leaders have spoken a number of times and this will be the second time that Mr Rutte has visited the Prime Minister at Downing Street,' the Prime Minister's official spokesman said on Thursday. Nato secretary general Mark Rutte is thought to be pushing for members to commit to spending 3.5% on the military (Toby Melville/PA) 'You can expect the Prime Minister to raise how we can ensure all allies meet their stated pledges in support of our collective defence, to keep people safe,' the spokesman later added. He said: 'It is worth recognising the UK's track record on spending and indeed our contribution to Nato, both in terms of our spending and our capabilities.' The visit comes ahead of alliance leaders meeting in The Hague later this month. Sir Keir Starmer has committed to spend 2.5% of gross domestic product on defence from April 2027, with a goal of increasing that to 3% over the next parliament, a timetable which could stretch to 2034. However, he and the Defence Secretary have already come under pressure to explain how the 3% target could be met. Nato's current demand for members' defence spending is 2% of GDP, but Mr Rutte said earlier this week that allies will find themselves 'in great difficulty' in the coming years if they stick to that. Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Rutte said: 'The expectation is that on the European side of Nato and the Canadian side of Nato, if we think that we can keep ourselves safe sticking with the 2%, forget it. 'Yes, the next three to five years, but then we are in great difficulty. 'And the US rightly expects us to spend much more to defend ourselves with their help, but also to equalise, which is only fair with what the US is spending on defence.'
South Wales Argus
21 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Faro Airport opens e-gates to British travellers in time for summer
Downing Street expects British holidaymakers will be able to use the technology in their 'millions', after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer struck an agreement with EU leaders last month. Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, whose brief includes EU relations, said at the despatch box on Thursday that the deal 'makes life easier for holidaymakers'. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Yesterday, Portugal opened e-gates at Faro Airport to British citizens, which will mean millions more Brits going to the Algarve will be able to use e-gates in time for the summer holidays.' He added: 'We're obviously continuing to work with other countries and other airports to ensure Brits can use more e-gates as soon as possible and that work continues. 'It's obviously good news to see a very significant airport, I think for British holidaymakers, opening e-gates to British citizens yesterday.' Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds said Faro Airport would start rolling out e-gate access to UK arrivals this week (Lucy North/PA) When he unveiled the deal last month, Sir Keir said that 'for holidaymakers wanting to get out this summer, they will want to know that they can do so easily and without delay and chaos'. The Prime Minister called on 'all EU members states to help make this a reality without delay'. Since Brexit, UK nationals have been unable to use e-gates in most Schengen area countries. Passengers from the UK face warnings that passport controls on arrival at Portugal 'may take up more time, as the passport will have to be stamped and there are additional questions that may be asked by the border control officers', according to the Faro Airport website. The Government has said the deal will smooth over 'legal barriers to e-gates use for UK nationals', once a new stamp-free biometric Entry/Exit System (EES) launches, due in October this year. Taking a question about steps 'to improve relations with the EU', Mr Thomas–Symonds told the Commons: 'The historic deal that we signed with the EU on May 19 is in our national interests – good for bills, borders and jobs. 'It slashes red tape and bureaucracy, boosts British exporters and makes life easier for holidaymakers. 'Indeed, I'm delighted to confirm this morning that Faro Airport in Portugal will start the rollout of e-gate access to UK arrivals this week.'
