French Warship Fires Near Tory as Migrants Sail Unchallenged to Britain
29th July 2026
A French warship fired 17 live rounds near a boat carrying Britain’s shadow home secretary as he observed French authorities escorting migrants towards the English coast.
Chris Philp, the Conservative Party’s spokesman on immigration and policing, accused the French military of attempting to intimidate him while he monitored illegal Channel crossings on Tuesday.
Philp was being interviewed aboard a fishing boat around two miles off the French coast when the patrol ship Flamant approached within approximately 300 metres and began firing a handgun into the water.