Minister ‘doesn’t accept’ government approach to migrant crossing isn’t working after Channel deaths

Environment secretary George Eustice denies policy failure — blaming ‘callous gangs’ for tragedy

A cabinet minister has denied the government’s approach to migrant crossings in the English Channel had failed following the deaths of four people attempting to reach the UK on a small boat.

Charities said the sinking of a dingy off the coast of northern France — which led to the deaths of two adults and two children — should act as a “wake-up call” for both the British and French authorities to change tack.

However, environment secretary George Eustice rejected the idea current policy had failed. “I don’t accept that,” he told BBC Breakfast, before blaming people traffickers for the tragedy.  

“This is a terrible tragedy and obviously our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who have been affected,” the Tory MP said.

“It is a terrible phenomenon that people are trying to make this dangerous crossing are usually being lured by callous gangs who take their money and send them on a dangerous journey in a dinghy across the channel.”

The Safe Passage charity said the lack of safe and legal routes for asylum seekers to make claims in the UK was partly to blame for the dangerous crossings.

Campaigners have warned the crossings could even increase if the government does not agree family reunion arrangements with the EU after the Brexit transition period ends.

Charity Care4Calais said the “loss of life should be a wake-up call for those in power”, while Save The Children called for a “joint plan” from the UK and France to protect vulnerable families.

Mr Eustice claimed the government’s current approach was to “remove the incentive for people trying to take this crossing” as part of a crackdown on gangs arranging the small boat journeys.  

The minister added: “There is no reason for [migrants] to make this crossing — they’re in safe countries, they’re in the EU, they’re in France … There’s no reason to make this crossing and they’re being encouraged to do so by gangs that are taking their money.”

Dan O’Mahoney, the Home Office’s Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, is set to go to France to discuss further enforcement measures with his French counterparts.

Mr Eustice was also given a tough time over the government’s refusal to extend free school meal vouchers over the holidays as he carried out the morning media round on behalf of the government.  

Sky News host Kay Burley asked the MP: “You’re saying you’ll feed children in term time, but they’ll have to go hungry when it’s not term time. Can you appreciate how ridiculous that sounds?”

When Mr Eustice replied: “I don’t understand the point you’re making,” the host said: “Kids are going hungry when they’re not at school — I can’t make it any simpler.”

Mr Eustice also said it was “too early to tell” how coronavirus restrictions will affect Christmas, after the Liberal Democrats called for a four-nations summit to agree a shared plan for Christmas travel across the UK over Christmas.