The LR mayor of Calais Natacha Bouchart on Thursday asked British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to "calm down" and "urgently change" his methods of welcoming migrants, who she said was responsible for a "call for air" to the UK.
Read also: Boris Johnson attacks illegal "stupid" Channel crossings
"Me, I consider Boris Johnson's words to be provocation, and I say it clearly, it is a declaration of maritime war since it is out of the question that the army ships actually hinder territorial waters (French) and in addition, technically, it is impossible, ” she told AFPTV. “If the migrants want to pass, it is because the British themselves create the call for air. They create the call for air since they have in fact not touched anything in their legislation for twenty years, so from the center of Sangatte, ” she said.
"Don't give in"
“So I call on Boris Johnson by saying 'you calm down urgently, urgently change your methods of dealing with and welcoming migrants'. And I call on Gérald Darmanin (the Minister of the Interior) by saying 'do not give in, do not give in since the British do not know how to negotiate, it is only by arm wrestling that we are able to be able to get something, '” she added.
A plan to combat illegal sea crossings, drawn up in consultation with the British authorities, is being finalized to strengthen the means of control on the coasts and upstream of the main crossing points. The British government on Sunday instructed a former Royal Navy to make illegal Channel crossings "impracticable" . Boris Johnson denounced Monday as "stupid, dangerous and criminal" to want to cross the Channel illegally to the United Kingdom. Crossing attempts have increased recently, in particular taking advantage of favorable weather conditions.