The migrants quarreled with France and Great Britain
French government spokesman Gabriel Atal said today that French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanen had informed his British counterpart Pretty Pratel that she was "no longer welcome" at a weekly meeting in France on the issue of illegal migrants, according to the BBC.
The cancellation followed a letter from British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to French President Emmanuel Macron criticizing France for its handling of illegal migration and human trafficking.
In the escalating political crisis following the deaths of 27 people on the English Channel, Gerald Darmanin said France was disappointed with the letter.
- With the public disclosure, things got even worse. We consider the public letter of the British Prime Minister unacceptable and contrary to our conversations between the partners. As a result, Priti Patel is no longer welcome, Darmanen said.
Johnson took five steps in his letter to President Emmanuel Macron to avoid a repeat of Wednesday's tragedy. Proposed measures include the activation of joint patrols to prevent more ships from leaving the French coast, as well as the use of state-of-the-art technology such as sensors and radars.
Joint naval patrols in mutual territorial waters and air surveillance are also proposed, as well as greater co-operation between the joint intelligence services. He also proposed negotiations to reach an agreement on the return of refugees between the United Kingdom and the EU.
"An agreement with France on the admission of migrants crossing the canal on this dangerous route will have an automatic and significant impact," Johnson said in the letter.
At least 27 people drowned in the English Channel yesterday as they tried to reach Britain from France.