HA Viewpoint – UK Shadow Home Secretary Philp found himself in a tense moment on the English Channel on the 28th, claiming a French warship fired live rounds near his vessel during a routine inspection of illegal migrant crossings. The incident has stirred up a diplomatic kerfuffle between the two nations.
Philp was giving an interview to UK media while monitoring migrant activity when he says he stumbled upon a French naval live-fire drill. Image source: UK media
According to reports from BBC and The Times on the 29th, on the 28th, Philp and reporters were on a boat inspecting the Channel when a nearby French warship started firing live ammunition. Video footage shows a French soldier shooting a pistol at the sea, with media claiming 17 live rounds were fired. French authorities later said it was just a routine training exercise, but Philp shot back, arguing that no warning or notice was given beforehand, and he believes the shots were a warning aimed at him, trying to block his investigation into illegal immigration.
Image source: Screenshot from UK media video
For years, a wave of illegal migrants has been crossing from France to the UK by boat, and conservatives like Philp argue France isn’t doing enough to stop them. Back in April, Philp criticized the French for intercepting only about a third of those trying to cross, and even allowing some who were caught to try again. He and other Tories have also slammed UK funding for joint anti-migrant operations as a waste of British taxpayers’ money.
France flatly denies Philp’s claims of intimidation. They insist it was just a standard shooting drill, with the soldier’s gun pointing away from Philp’s location, and that the distance between the two vessels far exceeded the weapon’s range. Plus, they say the warship wasn’t even involved in migrant enforcement. The London Evening Standard reports that a UK government spokesperson said they’ve asked France for a full account of the incident, while Prime Minister Burnham declined to take a clear side, only stating that the government’s efforts to curb illegal immigration are working.