Boris Johnson last night told Emmanuel Macron that he risks another Channel tragedy unless he stops blocking UK help to patrol French beaches.
In a dramatic intervention, Mr Johnson wrote directly to the French president to formally offer hundreds of British personnel to stop desperate migrants from taking to the water.
Downing Street said if Mr Macron backed down, there could be British boots on France’s northern shore as early as Monday in a radical bid to prevent a repeat of Wednesday’s tragedy.
France has so far fiercely resisted any move to allow British law enforcement officers to operate on its soil, claiming it would violate French sovereignty.
Yesterday, Mr Macron’s government continued to push back against the move, warning Mr Johnson not to ‘exploit’ the crisis for political ends.
But Government sources insisted that after 27 migrants drowned in the ‘dreadful disaster’, the French president had to relent.
The Prime Minister, 57, announced that he has called on the French President, 43, to take back migrants who cross the 'dangerous' Channel after 27 migrants died while making the crossing
France has so far fiercely resisted any move to allow British law enforcement officers to operate on its soil, claiming it would violate French sovereignty. President Macron (pictured November 22) may relent however following the deaths of 27 migrants when a dinghy deflated during a Channel crossing on Wednesday
A group of more than 40 migrants get on an inflatable dinghy, as they leave the coast of northern France to cross the English Channel, near Wimereux, France, November 24, 2021
Hundreds gathered outside the Home Office in Westminster, London to protest the Government's immigration policy and demand an end to deaths in the Channel following the tragedy
People gather around a banner with names of migrants died since 1999 while trying to cross t La Manche canal, at Parc de Richelieu in Calais, France, 25 November 2021.
People protest to pay tribute to the 27 migrants dead in La Manche canal, holding a flag with phrase says 'Refugees Welcome' at Parc de Richelieu in Calais, France, 25 November 2021
In his letter, the Prime Minister also offered to pay for private security personnel to conduct the joint patrols if Border Force staff are deemed unacceptable. And he proposed joint maritime patrols, which could see Border Force cutters operating in French waters.
He also proposed greater intelligence sharing and the use of more advanced technology, including ground sensors and radar to detect migrants before they leave France.
In addition, he urged Paris to negotiate a ‘returns agreement’ that would allow the UK to send migrants back to France, breaking the traffickers’ business model.
Home Office officials travelled to France last night ahead of talks with the French interior ministry today. Home Secretary Priti Patel yesterday said Mr Macron had the power to ‘end this now’.
Her comments came as more horrific details emerged about Wednesday’s tragedy. The death toll was originally reported as 31 by French authorities, but later revised to 27.
One migrant feared to be among the dead had phoned a friend to say: ‘It’s not good, the engine isn’t powerful enough – I don’t know if we’re going to make it.’ Mohammad Aziz, 31, has not been heard of since his frantic call.
Some of the migrants feared drowned on Wednesday when a dinghy sank in the Channel (pictured) are believed to have travelled to France via the controversial new Belarus route. The dead
