Hundreds have flooded the Calais area vowing to try to get to the UK after French authorities opened the five-star shelter.
The
town’s socialist mayor, Natacha Bouchart, ordered £100,000 to be spent
on the new facility with beds for refugees from Afghanistan,
Turkmenistan, Eritrea, Somalia, Syria and Pakistan.
Last
night a major row was under way after Ms Bouchart laid the blame
squarely at Britain’s door describing its immigration policy as
“grotesque”. Ukip leader Nigel Farage hit back saying the opening of the
centre was “a ridiculous, irresponsible” approach to the crisis.
“We
in the UK simply cannot keep sustaining large influxes of people which
have already added to a huge growth in population. This demonstrates,
sadly, how much of a soft touch Britain is perceived to be, given that
those who
have already reached the safety of France remain focused on coming to the UK specifically in hope of receiving handouts courtesy of the British taxpayer.”
France should honour its international duties, instead of “shirking” them, by processing asylum applications in the country in which they arrive, he added.
Border Agency officials have been put on red alert as the flow of refugees into Calais reaches epidemic proportions.
Most have been
encouraged to make the dash to the “promised land” of Britain after
being told of its endless opportunities and generous welfare payments.
Calais council worker Bruno Ansel, 51, said yesterday: “They all want to go to Britain.”
Yesterday
the Daily Express was the first British newspaper inside the centre –
dubbed Sangatte II – where large numbers of migrants will bed down in
comfort.
Thousands more will drift in as news of the centre gets round.
After
migrants gathered at the original Sangatte camp intent on making a move
for Britain by boarding lorries and trains, officials closed the
centre, a decade ago, and vowed “never again”.
But
Ms Bouchart blasted the UK’s immigration policy as “grotesque and
hypocritical” and pledged to help the migrants. Her deputy and Calais
immigration chief Philippe Mignonet claimed Britain was seen as
paradise.
