The real scandal about illegal immigration into this country is the collusion of the French Navy

Given how helpful the French and British authorities were to this migrant boat, I am sure the trafficking gangs cannot believe their luck
Nigel Farage
21 May 2020 • 11:49am
Nigel Farage

There is a scandal that has been known about for a long time among seaside communities but which, until now, has never been filmed or broadcast to the British public. I refer to the arrival of illegal immigrants in British waters with the active participation of the French Navy.

Over the last few weeks, I have been doing my best to expose the rapid rise in illegal immigrants entering Britain via small boats in the English Channel. Since lockdown began on 23 March, at least 1,085 people have been picked up, according to official figures. These are just the cases that are known about.

Having witnessed such a French Navy-assisted crossing myself this week, I feel qualified to predict that if this influx is not tackled, thousands more will come over the summer. It is important to be clear from the outset: the vast majority of the people choosing this route into our country are young men and economic migrants. They are not refugees. It is as if a sign has been hung on the White Cliffs of Dover that reads: “Everyone welcome.”
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This is pretty much the case, of course, because these days almost none of these illegal immigrants is returned to France, despite it being one of the safest countries in the world.

I just witnessed the French Navy escorting illegal migrants into British waters, despite the money we are paying them.

They even tried to prevent us from filming the handover, as you can see in the video.

This is an outrage and a scandal. Time for the government to get a grip. pic.twitter.com/hT8ctbZag5
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) May 20, 2020

The origins of my investigation into this matter lie in a process called ‘the handover’. I had heard about this, but I needed to see it at first-hand to be able to write about it. What happens during ‘the handover’ is very simple. The French Navy escorts migrant boats out of French waters and into British waters so that our Border Force can accept them and take their passengers into Dover to begin their lives in the United Kingdom. For some time, I have wondered why no media organisation has touched this story. Now that I know the truth – and given it was relatively easy to establish the facts - I am even more puzzled by this collective failure to scrutinise.

On Tuesday morning, I went out to sea looking for any migrant boat activity and any French Naval activity, but I drew a blank. Undeterred, I left Dover Harbour again at 5am on Wednesday in conditions which were perfect for migrant boats, a light southerly wind helping vessels go from France to England. On a map, the English Channel may look small, but when you’re out there, it is a very large expanse of water.

On the way out, the skipper heard on the radio that Dover Lifeboat Station was already engaged and had reached two migrant boats, with Border Force officials not far behind to collect the occupants. As we continued our journey, we heard over VHF radio that a large passing commercial vessel had spotted a migrant boat in the shipping lanes with an estimated 10 immigrants on board, all wearing life jackets. The point was three miles from our position, so we made full steam ahead. After an initial sighting we lost the dinghy, but worked hard with our binoculars and once again located it. Spotting small boats in an open sea is not easy, incidentally, which is why the Border Force now uses small spotter planes and drones to do so - at vast expense to British taxpayers.

As we approached the dinghy and came within a few yards of it, I was astounded at the scene before me. More than 20 people were crammed into a boat that could not have been more than 16 feet long. Some were even lying on the floor. It was so overloaded that it was taking in water at the back. A can was being used to bail it out.

Our position was made known to both the RNLI and the Border Force and, fearing a sinking was close at hand, we readied ourselves to take the migrants on board. Luckily, the lifeboat arrived, swiftly followed by the Border Force. By now knowing they were safe, the migrants smiled, made thumbs up signs and lit cigarettes. They were jubilant and kept saying: “England, England, England.”

Soon, we headed back towards French territorial waters having heard reports that the French Naval vessel ‘Fourmentin’ was escorting a small dinghy towards England. Then the trouble began. Incredibly, the French Navy began threatening us by radio, telling us that we were interfering with a search and rescue mission. Apparently, they always say this, but it is, of course, nonsense. Apart from anything else, we had already saved one boat that morning. Presumably, the French show such hostility in order to hide the truth. They do not want anyone to know what is really going on, but we saw it – and we recorded it.

For anyone that doubts me:

Here is the proof that the migrant boat on my film today was escorted from the French coast into UK waters by the French Navy.

This is a national scandal. pic.twitter.com/AwfXJ2W69L
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) May 20, 2020

Close alongside the migrant dinghy was a small French inflatable raft that had come off the mother ship. This stayed very close to the dinghy to ensure safety. As a Border Force vessel approached, Fourmentin very deliberately put herself between us and the ‘handover’ that was taking place. The French knew we had a camera on board from their previous sighting and they did not want this activity to be filmed.

Even more shockingly, the UK Coastguard then spoke over VHF radio to my skipper and told him that if anybody filmed the handover, his boat would be held in port. The skipper is tough, but he was visibly shaken. I told him: “Please don’t worry, I have a very good lawyer and the country will be behind you if they dare to behave in such an appalling manner.” I also said the truth has to be told, and he agreed.

After the handover, things arguably got even worse. We then heard a radio conversation between the French Navy and the Border Force. The French conceded that they must do things differently next time, aware that they had been rumbled. Incredibly, our side responded by saying: “Thank you for your assistance.” Yes, really. UK Border Force officials gave thanks to the French for escorting illegal migrants into British waters.

The perversity of this is impossible to accept. The French Navy is supposed to stop these boats from entering the United Kingdom. Yet the truth is that they rescue a few if they are sinking and take them back to Calais. The rest are taken into UK waters where some British officials seem only too happy to help. I am sure the trafficking gangs cannot believe their luck.

You may be wondering, as I am, if this is really what the UK Border Force is paid large sums of taxpayers’ money to do. I would also be fascinated to know what the Home Secretary Priti Patel makes of what I saw this week. As I have said before, if she fails to get a grip on this scandal now, lives will be lost and she will face far trickier questions.

Some will ask why I take such an interest in this matter. Aside from the fact that £400m of British taxpayers’ money has been spent in the last decade trying to stop this criminal trade (much of it has been spent in France, by the way), I and millions of others remain profoundly uneasy about people just being able to turn up here at will.

Many citizens from all backgrounds are worried about our national security. Others have concerns about public health as a result of Covid-19. And although it may be deeply unfashionable to say it, there is also a sizeable group in Britain who still believe in law and order. If they are wrong to raise legitimate objections to illegal immigration, something has gone very badly wrong.



https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/05/21/real-scandal-illegal-immigration-country-collusion-french-navy/





What a fukking disgrace!!!

Video here...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyuSrwWl9iY&app=desktop

How does he know they're not true refugees? Does he check out their personal stories?

Regarding the OP. I said the same thing about the French. They don’t want them so they let them “escape” to the UK.

Ben Reilly wrote:How does he know they're not true refugees? Does he check out their personal stories?

They are coming over the channel directly from France, which is a safe country... The law is clear that refugee status must be claimed in the first safe country that they get to... so not true refugees at all!