Paris-Sana
The French government announced that British Home Secretary Priti Patel is not welcome at the meeting related to immigrants to be held soon in France, following a sharp dispute and an exchange of accusations between London and Paris over the sinking of a migrant boat in the English Channel.
"Interior Minister Gerald Darmannan told his British counterpart Patel that she was no longer welcome at the meeting hosted by France next Sunday on the issue of illegal immigrants," French government spokesman Gabriel Attal told BFM television, Reuters reported.
In a letter addressed to French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticized Paris's handling of issues of illegal immigration and human smuggling.
"This letter lacks formality and is inappropriate," Atal said of Johnson's letter.
For his part, British Transport Minister Grant Shapps said in an interview with "BBC News" today that his country hopes that France will reconsider canceling Patel's invitation to attend the meeting, adding that "no country can handle this matter alone, so I hope that the French will return think about it.”
Johnson and Macron exchanged accusations during a phone call yesterday about responsibility after the new drowning incident in the English Channel, where the British Prime Minister renewed his call for Paris to agree to conduct joint patrols along the canal, accusing the French side of not doing its duties to prevent such incidents.
While the French president called on London not to use the immigration crisis for internal political purposes.