UK ministers are under pressure to stop thousands of migrants who stormed the Spanish territory of Ceuta from reaching the UK, after Spanish troops struggled to restore order following a mass crossing into the North African enclave.
Spain's prime minister blamed trafficking gangs for the surge, in which 57 people have reportedly died. The crossing has been declared the biggest ever one-day surge of illegal migrants into the EU, with 60,000 people entering Ceuta by land and sea on Thursday.
UK politicians warn over Channel crossings
The Conservatives and Reform UK have demanded ministers take immediate action to strengthen Britain's borders. Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel told the Daily Mail that some of those crossing would "inevitably try to make their way to the UK". Reform leader Nigel Farage warned: "Thousands of young men, lots of them dangerous, will be heading towards Calais and our country. It's time to wake up. This is a battle for our civilization."
Shadow home secretary Chris Philp warned that if the migrants who crossed into Ceuta can access the European continent, then "there is nothing to stop them coming straight to Calais and trying to get a boat across the Channel". He added: "The Spanish government should expel them straight back to Morocco and certainly not allow any onto the Spanish mainland. If these illegal immigrants do make it to Spain, then the EU's borderless Schengen zone means there is nothing to stop them coming straight to Calais and trying to get a boat across the Channel here. Spain's border crisis could rapidly become our border crisis."
Spain and EU response
As of Friday evening, more than 48,000 people had voluntarily returned to Morocco, Spanish officials said. Asked about the scenes, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: "Obviously that's a matter for the Spanish government first and foremost, but it is a cause for concern. And we are making contact with the Spanish government, the Spanish authorities, to provide support but also to understand the implications of that situation."
First Secretary of State Louise Haigh described events in Ceuta as "extremely concerning", but said: "It's not an invading nation or force. It's a lot of people crossing over a border, attempting to enter another country, and we need to stop those people entering our country illegally."
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the influx a "violation of Spain's territorial integrity". Italy has responded by suspending the EU's border-free Schengen arrangements with Spain, while France said it would introduce stricter controls on its border with Spain.
The surge comes after Spain's Supreme Court ruled that migrants stopped at sea while trying to reach Ceuta or Melilla, another Spanish enclave, cannot be summarily returned to Morocco.
