Priti Patel has 'doing nothing for two years' to prevent Channel crossings

Priti Patel has 'doing nothing for two years' to prevent Channel crossings
Priti Patel has 'doing nothing for two years' to prevent Channel crossings

Priti Patel found herself at the centre of a blame game over the migrant crisis last night, as she claimed she had been repeatedly let down by other Ministers - as Whitehall slammed her for 'doing nothing for two years' to prevent the crossings.

Tragedy hit the Channel this week when a raft of migrants crossing to Britain sank, killing at least 27 on board including seven women - one of whom was pregnant - and three children.

The Home Secretary has been privately rebuked by Boris Johnson for failing to 'get a grip' on the issue, and was joined in his criticisms by other Ministers at a meeting in the wake of the drowning tragedy.

The 49-year-old's friends however hit back, accusing other ministers of doing 'sweet f*** all' to help with the situation and accusing the French of refusing to cooperate. 

But concerns have continued to build up over Ms Patel's ability to deal with the crossings, which now stand at nearly three times last year's total. 

Priti Patel, 49, last night launched a defence of her handling of the migrant crisis as she faced pressure from Ministers and MPs

Priti Patel, 49, last night launched a defence of her handling of the migrant crisis as she faced pressure from Ministers and MPs

Tragedy hit the Channel this week when a raft of migrants crossing to Britain sank, killing at least 27 on board including seven women - one of whom was pregnant - and three children

Tragedy hit the Channel this week when a raft of migrants crossing to Britain sank, killing at least 27 on board including seven women - one of whom was pregnant - and three children 

One official from No10 attacked Ms Patel for 'doing nothing for two years', while a cabinet colleague said that she 'has got to get a grip'.

They told the Sunday Times: 'She has overpromised and underdelivered for the past two years. It’s been all mouth and no trousers and everyone, including the PM, is getting fed up of her.'

Another cabinet minister accused her of 'missing in action' for interviews to respond to news of the 27 people who drowned on Wednesday.

While the Prime Minister has remained publicly supportive of Ms Patel there were claims last night that he had lost confidence in his Home Secretary. No10 denied the rumours. 

The Home Secretary has been privately rebuked by Boris Johnson for failing to 'get a grip' on the issue, and was joined in his criticisms by other Ministers at a meeting in the wake of the drowning tragedy

Ms Patel was due to meet President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the crisis, but the French government cancelled the meeting in a fit of pique after receiving an open letter from Boris Johnson, posted on Twitter, which Mr Macron claimed breached protocol.

In a further escalation of rhetoric, Michel Barnier, the EU’s former Brexit negotiator, who is running in France’s presidential election, urged France to tear up its migrant treaty with the UK.

The Prime Minister is understood to have privately rebuked Ms Patel for failing to ‘get a grip’ on the issue, and was joined in his criticisms by other Ministers at a meeting in the wake of the drowning tragedy.

A source said: ‘She has had two years to sort this out, but the situation is worse than ever. She is happy to bask in the limelight when things are going well, but seems to go missing when it goes wrong.’

However, allies of Ms Patel hit back by blaming the French – and her ministerial colleagues.

Ms Patel was due to meet President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the crisis, but the French government cancelled the meeting in a fit of pique after receiving an open letter from Boris Johnson

Ms Patel was due to meet President Emmanuel Macron to discuss the crisis, but the French government cancelled the meeting in a fit of pique after receiving an open letter from Boris Johnson

A Home Office source said: ‘This letter debacle shows publicly what Priti has been battling against in private for the last two years. We have made all the offers the Prime Minister made to the French in his letter before.

‘We could offer them a pot of unlimited gold and a magic wand to make this all stop and they would still find a reason to say no.

‘People say she should get a grip of the situation, and now they can all see for themselves what she’s up against. 

'Departments across Whitehall have sat on their hands for two years and it’s only now they are starting to even look at what our asks of them are.

‘What would anyone else have done differently? For two years people have been trying to water down what we have suggested.

‘It’s only thanks to Priti that offshoring and outsourcing even remain options’. 

Baran Nouri Hamadami, from northern Iraq, and pictured with her husband, was among the 27 who drowned in the disaster off the coast of Calais earlier this week

Baran Nouri Hamadami, from northern Iraq, and pictured with her husband, was among the 27 who

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