Nick Thomas-Symonds comments on France withdrawing Priti Patel's invitation to Calais meeting

Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary, commenting on France withdrawing an invitation to Priti Patel to meet her French counterpart in Calais for talks on the situation in the Channel following Boris Johnson’s letter to Emmanuel Macron, said:

“This is a humiliation for a Prime Minister and Home Secretary who have completely lost control of the situation in the Channel.

“At the very moment when the Prime Minister needed to be a statesman, what we have seen is a grave error of judgement in putting this sensitive letter on Twitter - causing our government to be excluded from these vital talks. The French and British Governments must show leadership, sit down together and urgently find solutions. This continued blame game is not getting us anywhere.

“Labour would be going beyond just coastal patrols to engage in proper joint law enforcement, working with the French authorities and other countries to tackle these vile people smuggling gangs upstream, as well as seeking safe and legal routes.”