Fury erupts as state-funded French film director ‘urges illegal migrants to cross Channel | Politics | News
Anger erupted after an activist coached illegal immigrants to “call 999” from the Channel while filming a film backed by French taxpayers’ money. Thomas Grandrémy also told the refugees that if they proceeded towards Dover in dangerous boats, “England would be saved”.
The total number of illegal immigrants arriving in the UK since the crisis began in 2018 has surpassed the 200,000 mark. Fears are also growing that Belgium could become a major starting point for migrants following an increase in crossings.
Director Mr Grandrémy’s film Tomorrow UK Inch’Allah opened in Calais on Thursday night.
In the behind-the-scenes clip, he is seen talking to someone who wants to migrate by boat.
He asks: “Do you know how it works? When you’re in the middle of the sea, you call 999. Then the UK rescue team comes.”
The documentary was produced “with the participation” of French taxpayer-funded TV channel France 3, The Sun reported on Sunday.
It was also supported by France’s publicly listed CNC film agency, which awarded creative grants of up to €100,000 (£86,500) through its Aide à la Production programme.
This raises the possibility that Mr Grandrémy may have been given a significant amount of French public money to produce the film, just weeks after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood gave France £662 million of UK taxpayers’ money.
British taxpayers’ funds need to be ring-fenced for use at the border, but critics said funding for Tomorrow UK Inch’Allah showed French authorities were not serious about stopping the boats. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “It’s a shame that this French film director is encouraging illegal immigration.”
The Home Office said: “The Home Secretary has signed an important agreement with France to increase enforcement measures.
“This builds on joint work that has stopped more than 42,000 illegal immigrants trying to cross the Channel since the election.”
It appears that calling 999 from the Channel will not help migrants as Border Force already knows their location.
