Latest news with #XavierBertrand
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
British bosses paying peanuts to migrants working on black market, warns Calais president
The UK must clamp down on allowing migrants to cross the Channel illegally and then 'work for peanuts' on the black market, according to the head of the Calais region. The call from Xavier Bertrand, the Right-wing head of the Hauts-de-France region came a day before a meeting between Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, and Bruno Retailleau, her hardline French counterpart, to discuss the Channel migrant situation. Speaking to French broadcaster TF1, Mr Bertrand said: 'We have to be prepared to say listen, Britons, if things don't change we're going to hand your border back.' He was referring to the Le Touquet agreements, a 2003 deal under which France and the UK carry out immigration controls in each other's territories at seaports. French officials have regularly threatened to rip up the accords but have never done so amid fears that would simply attract scores more migrants hoping to reach the UK from France's northern shores. Last year, some 36,816 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK. Mr Retailleau mooted the idea of ending the accords in November but then said that doing so 'would be the best way to rebuild the 'jungle' [a former makeshift migrant camp] and to clog up cross-Channel traffic.' He said it would not come to that, adding: 'Don't tell me that this is going to create a magnet effect because overnight the British will change their policy.' 'Brinkmanship is not the preserve of certain countries,' he said, apparently referring to Donald Trump's diplomacy of threats. 'Brinkmanship that respects the law is to ensure that France and the French are respected.' Mr Bertrand also said he would ask Ms Cooper 'whether British bosses sleep well at night knowing they are paying peanuts [on black market jobs] for migrants who have lost family members crossing the Channel'. French officials have repeatedly claimed the UK turns a blind eye to illegal immigrants propping up its economy. A spokesman for Mr Bertrand told the Telegraph: 'He wants the British to change their labour laws that favour illegal immigration. Today, British companies employ undocumented migrants and pay them very little, creating a magnet effect.' The call came as Francois Bayrou, the French prime minister, was due to hold a cabinet meeting on Wednesday on how to 'take back control of migratory flows'. Mr Bayrou recently raised eyebrows by calling for a national debate on immigrants, who he said were 'flooding' France. Under a joint multi-year arrangement agreed at the UK–France leaders' summit in March 2023, the UK pledged to commit about £478 million over three years, notably on extra equipment and gendarmes patrolling the northern French coast. Labour has pledged to treat people-smugglers like terrorists under its Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. Suspects face travel bans, social-media blackouts and phone restrictions. A new offence of endangering lives at sea will carry a jail term of up to five years, and those convicted of acts in preparation for smuggling – such as buying boat parts – will face up to 14 years in prison. Separately, the government has issued guidance saying anyone entering the UK by an irregular route such as a small boat crossing will normally be refused citizenship. Previously, refugees who entered this way could apply for citizenship after 10 years. Mr Bertrand made no mention of these changes. In November, Mr Retailleau called for a new 'comprehensive' Europe-wide deal with Britain on migration in which the UK accepted legal routes for migrants in exchange for the 'return' of illegal immigrants from Britain to the EU. British hopes of the bloc-wide agreement were raised after France and Germany wrote to Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, requesting her to kick-start negotiations. But diplomatic sources later warned that any future deal would only be acceptable if Britain were to take in more refugees from Europe and make it easier for migrants in France to be able to join any family members they have in the UK. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
British bosses paying peanuts to Calais migrants working on black market, says Calais president
The UK must clamp down on allowing migrants to cross the Channel illegally and then 'work for peanuts' on the black market, according to the head of the Calais region. The call from Xavier Bertrand, the Right-wing head of the Hauts-de-France region came a day before a meeting between Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, and Bruno Retailleau, her hardline French counterpart, to discuss the Channel migrant situation. Speaking to French broadcaster TF1, Mr Bertrand said: 'We have to be prepared to say listen, Britons, if things don't change we're going to hand your border back.' He was referring to the Le Touquet agreements, a 2003 deal under which France and the UK carry out immigration controls in each other's territories at seaports. French officials have regularly threatened to rip up the accords but have never done so amid fears that would simply attract scores more migrants hoping to reach the UK from France's northern shores. Last year, some 36,816 migrants crossed the Channel to the UK. Mr Retailleau mooted the idea of ending the accords in November but then said that doing so 'would be the best way to rebuild the 'jungle' [a former makeshift migrant camp] and to clog up cross-Channel traffic.' He said it would not come to that, adding: 'Don't tell me that this is going to create a magnet effect because overnight the British will change their policy.' 'Brinkmanship is not the preserve of certain countries,' he said, apparently referring to Donald Trump's diplomacy of threats. 'Brinkmanship that respects the law is to ensure that France and the French are respected.' Mr Bertrand also said he would ask Ms Cooper 'whether British bosses sleep well at night knowing they are paying peanuts [on black market jobs] for migrants who have lost family members crossing the Channel'. French officials have repeatedly claimed the UK turns a blind eye to illegal immigrants propping up its economy. A spokesman for Mr Bertrand told the Telegraph: 'He wants the British to change their labour laws that favour illegal immigration. Today, British companies employ undocumented migrants and pay them very little, creating a magnet effect.' The call came as Francois Bayrou, the French prime minister, was due to hold a cabinet meeting on Wednesday on how to 'take back control of migratory flows'. Mr Bayrou recently raised eyebrows by calling for a national debate on immigrants, who he said were 'flooding' France. Under a joint multi-year arrangement agreed at the UK–France leaders' summit in March 2023, the UK pledged to commit about £478 million over three years, notably on extra equipment and gendarmes patrolling the northern French coast. Labour has pledged to treat people-smugglers like terrorists under its Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill. Suspects face travel bans, social-media blackouts and phone restrictions. A new offence of endangering lives at sea will carry a jail term of up to five years, and those convicted of acts in preparation for smuggling – such as buying boat parts – will face up to 14 years in prison. Separately, the government has issued guidance saying anyone entering the UK by an irregular route such as a small boat crossing will normally be refused citizenship. Previously, refugees who entered this way could apply for citizenship after 10 years. Mr Bertrand made no mention of these changes. In November, Mr Retailleau called for a new 'comprehensive' Europe-wide deal with Britain on migration in which the UK accepted legal routes for migrants in exchange for the 'return' of illegal immigrants from Britain to the EU. British hopes of the bloc-wide agreement were raised after France and Germany wrote to Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Commission, requesting her to kick-start negotiations. But diplomatic sources later warned that any future deal would only be acceptable if Britain were to take in more refugees from Europe and make it easier for migrants in France to be able to join any family members they have in the UK.
