When Conservative MP Chris Philp visited a beach near Boulogne last week, he came face to face with the reality of the Channel migrant crisis. He had been tracking a group of around 80 mostly young men hoping to claim asylum as a dinghy came into view and people began climbing aboard. Standing nearby were heavily armed French gendarmes, who made no move to intervene.
"Why are you taking no action?" Philp, the shadow home secretary, asked one officer. "Our order is to let them go," came the reply, in broken English.
That single sentence sums up what British taxpayers have been paying for. More than £1 billion has been sent to France to improve and increase the prevention of migrant crossings – crossings that last week claimed four more lives.
Billions spent, crossings still rising
Supporters point to the fact that crossings are down around 40% compared with the same period last year. Yet that glosses over the catastrophic value for money.
The Anglo-French cooperation was first started under the previous Conservative government, which sent £476 million to Paris in 2023. The following year, arrivals soared by 25% to more than 36,000. In 2025 they jumped again to more than 41,000.
Despite that record, the current administration chose to renew the deal. The Home Secretary has now agreed a package worth £660 million to France until 2029, with no conditions attached. That takes the total committed over six years to more than £1 billion.
Burnham's claim questioned
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said last week that the plan "is working". The revelation above makes that assertion even more risible.
In a wealth of policy announcements over recent weeks – ending rough sleeping, cutting energy bills, helping the pub trade and setting up a social care system – there has not been one word on this problem. Are we really to believe that such a hugely contentious issue was never raised on the doorsteps of Makerfield just a few weeks ago? Ministers insist everything is going to plan because crossings in July were down, but that is solely due to adverse wind conditions. The tide has turned literally: around 1,000 migrants arrived on a single day last week. And nothing is being done to tackle the obvious "draw" factor that the UK provides through the potential lifestyle it offers.
Time to get real
The "Storm in a T-shirt" row involving Green Party leader Zack Polanski has finally died down. Polanski showed appalling lack of judgement by passing on an image that supported the possible beheading of Nigel Farage. The police say no action will be taken against anyone who re-posted the image, although the sporting of the shirt should be recorded as a crime.
Anyone agree the moral of this tale is that we need politicians who spend less time online and more time seeking solutions?
The good, the bad and the ugly
Good news: the PM has plans. Bad news: we won't know the details until October.
Slipping out
Margot Robbie may look stylish in anything, but her decision to go shopping in Paris last week wearing nothing but a negligee – or "slip" – attracted considerable attention.
Yet as much of Europe bakes in a virtually unprecedented heatwave, one has to wonder whether such attire will be the choice come December. And if I stepped out in my Wee Willy Winky pyjamas to pop to Sainsbury's, would I get the same level of acclaim?
Big own goal
When even disgraced former football supremo Sepp Blatter questions the morality of the supposed "World Cup For Sale" deal, you know it must be bad.
What a waste!
A bursary of £4,500 is to be offered to parents of children with physical or emotional disabilities, to stop them dissuading their children from taking up a job or apprenticeship. Meanwhile, the government advisor researching the social care system was able to claim benefits even though she admitted her health meant she was not deserving.
What further proof is needed to show that the benefits and welfare system – with a combined cost of £333 billion a year – is totally out of control?
Just go, Glasto
The BBC cuts keep coming. Time to say farewell to Blankety Blank, Live at the Apollo, and Celebrity Mastermind. But at the third time of asking, can we be told if there will be any cuts in Glastonbury coverage?
