Yvette Cooper calls for Government to put “maximum diplomatic pressure” on France over Calais crisis

Yvette Cooper has called for the Government to put “maximum diplomatic pressure” on France over the refugee crisis in Calais.

The shadow Home Secretary has argued that as the crisis worsens “the diplomacy with the French government isn’t working to get a sustainable solution.” She has called for “sufficient border staff” in Calais to ” to maintain order with the French Government and prevent people losing their lives.”

Over 3,000 people – many of whom are thought to be refugees – are living in a camp in Calais. On Tuesday night 1,500 people tried to access the Channel Tunnel, resulting in the death of one man thought to be from Sudan.

Cooper has called for “more action from the French Government to assess people arriving in France, to prevent people reaching Calais in the first place and to police the roads where lorries are targets.”

She has also noted that asylum claims should be dealt with in the EU country where people arrive so “vulnerable refugees get the support they need”

Cooper has proposed a a longer term strategy to address this crisis, saying:

“In the longer term we know there needs to be both diplomatic and practical action in Southern Europe and in the regions driving people to flee. This will take time, but it is the only way to prevent the desperate scenes at Calais and across Europe as people’s hopes are exploited by criminal smugglers. There also needs to be a far greater willingness from the UK government to participate in refugee relocation schemes – specifically by taking more vulnerable Syrian refugees fleeing the humanitarian crisis.”

This comes after David Cameron told the ITV News that the crisis at Calais has become worse because “you have got a swarm of people coming across the Mediterranean, seeking a better life, wanting to come to Britain”. Although estimates suggest that only a small number of people seeking in asylum want to come to the UK.

In response to Cameron’s comment Labour leadership candidate Burnham  criticised the PM  for his ‘disgraceful’ choice of words. Burnham said this shows ‘there’s no dog-whistle these Bullingdon Boys wont blow’.

Interim leader Harriet Harman has also lambasted the PM’s comments. Speaking on World At One this afternoon, she said that attacked Cameron’s “derogatory comments”. She said:

“Describing them as ‘swarms’, I mean, these are people we are talking about, not insects. Whipping up with inflammatory language is not going to solve the problem, which is having a serious economic impact in Kent, on lorry drivers, on holiday-makers, as well as on the French side of the border.”

She added:

“I think David Cameron has got to remember he is the Prime Minister. He is representing this country and he should be sorting out the problems that are affecting this country and making diplomatic efforts to get the French to do what they need to be doing, as well as us playing our part in relation to human trafficking crack downs and humanitarian aid.

“I think off the cuff derogatory comments are just not good enough for a Prime Minister and really setting up an inflammatory atmosphere is not what we want.”

Similarly, Diane Abbott who is in the running to be Labour’s candidate for London Mayor has criticised Cameron’s remarks:

Cameron talking about “swarm of people” trying to reach UK is deliberately dehumanising language & helps nobody.

— Diane Abbott (@HackneyAbbott) July 30, 2015