Calais mayor blames Britain for immigration problems
20th April 2009
The mayor of Calais, Natacha Bouchart, has blamed Britain’s asylum and benefits system for “imposing” thousands of illegal migrants on her town.
Mrs Bouchart pointed out that the Calais Chamber of Trade was having to spend £12 million each year securing the port area – money she suggested the French government should pay back.
But it was Britain’s immigration system which was predominantly to blame for thousands of Africans, eastern Europeans and people from central Asia trying to clamber aboard lorries and trains in Calais to get to the UK every day.
“Requesting asylum is easier with them (the British) than in France,” said Mrs Bouchart.
“The asylum seeker is given accommodation and receives £31 to £40 a week according to their case, when the annual salary of the average Eritrean is around $200 (£136).
“That seems enormous and it’s attractive, even if in some places it’s nothing.”
I’m shocked, I tell you, shocked.