To think that UK bound lorry drivers should boycott Calais?

[Libitina]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33240475

The local police would soon do something to protect them then. If it was my husband (he's not a lorry driver) I would be so worried about his personal saftey. How long before someone is hurt or killed?

[somewheresomehow]

they should sue the french government and their police who are doing sod all to stop the migrants trying to get over here

[OverAndAbove]

I don't understand why the French mayor is blaming the UK government? I thought it wa pretty much accepted that the French want the migrants to pass through to the UK and not stop. What am I missing here?

[lljkk]

It's an enormous security risk. Frightens the bejeezus out of me.

I fancy something like something like processing centres for UK entry on French side but any illegal migrants promised to be chucked into UK prisons for 2 yrs minimum before being deported to Timbuktu.

[Moreshabbythanchic]

It wont stop until someone is killed then all they will say is "lessons will be learned".

[Timetodrive]

They could refuse but they will not get paid, I am surprised that drivers have not been hurt or killed.

[Marylou2]

I used to go to France via Calais every year. Wouldn't dream of it now.France needs to get its army to Calais and process and deport the people who don't meet asylum criteria.I'm guessing 99% of them.

[rightguard]

How will they get to/from France? Poole and Portsmouth could never cope with the volume of traffic.

and it would just move the problem to roscoff/ Le harve

[Moreshabbythanchic]

It wont work just moving the departure points as the immigrants will just follow and set up camps there. France needs to deal with the problem instead of laying on food, water and electricity.

Our government could help too by making it clear that there is no homes/jobs/money for them here.

[RachelRagged]

Just saw some of it on ITN News.

I find it disgusting the way French police have left our (and other UK bound) lorry drivers to it ! Bang out of order .

YANBU Op

[scaevola]

"France needs to get its army to Calais"

Or perhaps England? It's about time to reverse the losses of 1558.

[Moreshabbythanchic]

I do wonder whether this srtike has been organised so as to give the immigrants a better chence to get on the lorries so as to relieve them of the problem. cynical me, oh no

[EnlightenedOwl]

They are desperate to get into Britain but I thought to claim asylum you do this at the first safe country you come to. That's not Britain.
When they do get in how long is it to get them out again? Do they leave?

[RedandYellow24]

It's sad that people end up in France but don't really think they know what they are getting into either. Surely it's just as "easy" to get a job in black market in France and live as in the UK? Presumably majority aren't going to claim official asylum in UK either? Given they have already passed through 5/6 countries.
since it's only going to get worse with people coming up France are going let them do whatever. Would not be surprised if on the quiet France paid lorries to take them over to get rid of few

[TTWK]

OP, when you went to the shops and none of the stuff you needed was in stock, because the lorries were still queueing up at every minor French port having boycotted Calais, you'd be bloody furious!

[woodhill]

agree Shabby. could we not return the stowaways back to France as that was where they got on the lorry and send out a clear message to not bother to try this

[Mistigri]

In reality it probably would be easier for these people to survive in the UK, if they can get there and avoid arrest - more opportunities to work than in France, less racism, and many will speak decent English.

The french have behaved dreadfully on this issue (btw I live in france and am mother to two little French people - I'm not anti french).

As far as boycotting Calais - impossible, no other route has anything like enough capacity.

[sebsmummy1]

The French blame the UK for having the welfare state we do and think we have basically brought it on ourselves.

[Mistigri]

I'm not sure that's true tbh sebsmummy. There is a generous welfare state here in france, and in any case illegal migrants don't qualify for much in the way of benefits on either side of the channel. It is possibly easier for these people to access support in UK because they are likely to speak some english and because british bureaucracy is less bloodymindedly obstructive and racist than the french version.

Its important to remember that this part of France is poor compared to the SE of England. It makes sense for these people to head where they have (if they evade the authorities) some possibility of working.

[ConferencePear]

RedandYellow - it's much more difficult to get work 'on the black' in France than it is in the UK. Additionally the penalties for the employers are harsh.

[MrsRossPoldark]

Is it me or did I hear some French authority actually say it was the British's fault as the migrants are on British soil, even though they are in Calais? Since when is Calais/France = Britain? They are actually trying to blame Britain when the migrants are opening car & lorry doors and just jumping in right in front of the French authorities? incensed just isn't strong enough!

As for telling people to keep car doors locked - I hope to God it isn't as hot over there as it is in S England right now, or we'll have roasted drivers and passengers to cope with as well as migrants, when they eventually get across the Channel.

[Moreshabbythanchic]

Has anyone heard anything from May and Cameron lately?

[Pixel]

OP, when you went to the shops and none of the stuff you needed was in stock, because the lorries were still queueing up at every minor French port having boycotted Calais, you'd be bloody furious!

But it's already the case that goods are not reaching our shops because once the migrants have been in the lorries the contents are deemed to be contaminated. So it wouldn't make much difference in that sense but at least the lorry drivers would be safer.

[EnlightenedOwl]

why did we open a channel tunnel made it too easy

[rale124]

I remember reading that its very difficult to work in the black in France. Something about ID Cards or something? Where in the UK every shady employers willing to pay cash in hand to immigrants if it means avoiding tax, pension contributions etc.

Its a difficult case that unfortunatly lies with the French. We can't march into they're country and start clearing it up and we can't take illegal immigrants either as I doubt France would be very open to having immigrants they don't want deported back to them. Until they decide to something about it we're rather stuck.

[FujimotosElixir]

Where are the women and children? That struck me.