Emmanuel Macron's anti-Brexit threat to move border to UK was 'BLUSTER', blasts Tory MP
EMMANUEL MACRON’S anti-Brexit threat to move the border from Calais to Dover has laughed off by the MP for Dover.
Charlie Elphicke: Macron ENJOYED ‘bluster’ over French border
Charlie Elphicke said the newly elected French president had been caught up in his own “bluster” while trying to make a mark for himself on the global scene.
During his campaign, Mr Macron warned he would renegotiate France’s border agreement with the UK as part of Brexit, raising the prospect of a refugee camp being set up in Kent.
Before the Frenchman went head to head against Marine Le Pen in the final election round, in May, he said the Le Touquet treaty, under which British border guards operate in Calais, should be “back on the table”.
Speaking to talkRADIO, Conservative MP Mr Elphicke said it was as much in France’s interest as the UK’s for the border to remain in Calais.
Charlie Elphicke laughed off anti-Brexit threats from Emmanuel Macron
In the early days the new president Emmanuel Macron used to enjoy a bit of bluster
It was also suggested weaker controls in Calais would entice more migrants to travel and set up camp as they attempt to make the dangerous crossing to Britain.
Mr Elphicke said: “In the early days the new president Emmanuel Macron used to enjoy a bit of bluster – like they all do.
“But then I think he realised pretty quickly that it mattered to France just as much as Britain that we have a strong border.
“What happens is if you have a porous border, Calais acts as a migrant magnet. Migrants won’t go to Calais if they know they have no hope of getting through, that’s why it matters just as much to France.”
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The Dover MP also voiced his support for an international campaign to end migrant trafficking after figures released by the French interior ministry showed 30,000 attempts were made by migrants in Calais to reach the UK since the start of this year, despite the closure of the Jungle migrant camp in 2016.
Mr Elphicke believes migrants are attracted to the UK because “we have got a very vibrant successful economy”.
“Unlike the rest of Europe we’ve done very well,” he added. “We have a vibrant jobs market and we have English as our language, which is a supreme international language.”
But the Conservative MP conceded the willingness of migrants to travel to the UK is “not simply due to economic demand and our vibrant economy”.
Mr Elphicke continued: “It’s due to trafficking networks leading to Britain.
“What we need to be doing is working with France to help them back to their home nation.”