Reform UK Chairman Lee Anderson’s trip to Calais this week has exposed the scale of the migrant camps operating across the Channel.
Anderson, Reform MP for Ashfield, travelled to the Loon-Plage settlement between Calais and Dunkirk, where around 2,500 people live in tents while hoping to cross the English Channel. The camp contains makeshift shops and charging points, while charities distribute food and supplies.
During his visit, Anderson questioned immigrants about why they wanted to reach Britain rather than remain in France. One Egyptian man told an interpreter that Britain had “a good government” and would “give us papers”. He also said that he had friends in the UK who had arrived there via small boats.
A 22-year-old Somali man said: “I need to be in the UK.” After revealing that he had paid €1,200 towards his journey, he insisted: “I’m not going to the UK. I’m going to Scotland.”
Asked why, he replied: “I like it. Edinburgh.”
The man later became aggressive, threatening off-camera to kidnap the only female member of Anderson’s group and stab members of the security team.
“On a human level, you do feel sorry for this chap”, Anderson said. “But he’s going to be trouble and cost us a lot of money. Do we want that sort of person in our country?”
As Anderson and his group prepared to leave, another immigrant blocked the minibus, attempted to get aboard and shouted in Arabic: “Take me to England.” Video shows him making obscene gestures after security staff forced him away.
“Coming to an HMO [House in Multiple Occupation] on a street near you, trust me,” Anderson said.
Anderson also warned that aid groups and people smugglers were filling immigrants with hope that they would reach Britain, despite the danger of drowning in the Channel.
Speaking to the Telegraph during his visit, he questioned why those in the camp could not claim asylum in France or another country they had passed through. “I’m not buying any of it”, he said.
Anderson’s visit to Calais comes days after Reform UK launched Operation Fortress, our plan to stop illegal Channel crossings. Under this new policy, a Reform government would deploy the Royal Navy and Royal Marines to intercept every small boat and return everybody on board to their country of departure. This would be done in tandem with removing any incentives for people to travel illegally to the UK - such as taxpayer-funded hotel accommodation, benefits hand-outs, and even free trips to cinemas and safari parks.
Anderson said that the scenes demonstrated why urgent action was needed to stop the crossings.
“We can stop this”, he said. “The French - we see it every day - are literally waving these people onto these boats… Every death, every incident in that Channel is in the hands of the French police, the French authorities.”
Anderson, Reform MP for Ashfield, travelled to the Loon-Plage settlement between Calais and Dunkirk, where around 2,500 people live in tents while hoping to cross the English Channel. The camp contains makeshift shops and charging points, while charities distribute food and supplies.
During his visit, Anderson questioned immigrants about why they wanted to reach Britain rather than remain in France. One Egyptian man told an interpreter that Britain had “a good government” and would “give us papers”. He also said that he had friends in the UK who had arrived there via small boats.
A 22-year-old Somali man said: “I need to be in the UK.” After revealing that he had paid €1,200 towards his journey, he insisted: “I’m not going to the UK. I’m going to Scotland.”
Asked why, he replied: “I like it. Edinburgh.”
The man later became aggressive, threatening off-camera to kidnap the only female member of Anderson’s group and stab members of the security team.
“On a human level, you do feel sorry for this chap”, Anderson said. “But he’s going to be trouble and cost us a lot of money. Do we want that sort of person in our country?”
As Anderson and his group prepared to leave, another immigrant blocked the minibus, attempted to get aboard and shouted in Arabic: “Take me to England.” Video shows him making obscene gestures after security staff forced him away.
“Coming to an HMO [House in Multiple Occupation] on a street near you, trust me,” Anderson said.
Anderson also warned that aid groups and people smugglers were filling immigrants with hope that they would reach Britain, despite the danger of drowning in the Channel.
Speaking to the Telegraph during his visit, he questioned why those in the camp could not claim asylum in France or another country they had passed through. “I’m not buying any of it”, he said.
Anderson’s visit to Calais comes days after Reform UK launched Operation Fortress, our plan to stop illegal Channel crossings. Under this new policy, a Reform government would deploy the Royal Navy and Royal Marines to intercept every small boat and return everybody on board to their country of departure. This would be done in tandem with removing any incentives for people to travel illegally to the UK - such as taxpayer-funded hotel accommodation, benefits hand-outs, and even free trips to cinemas and safari parks.
Anderson said that the scenes demonstrated why urgent action was needed to stop the crossings.
“We can stop this”, he said. “The French - we see it every day - are literally waving these people onto these boats… Every death, every incident in that Channel is in the hands of the French police, the French authorities.”
