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| Calais mayor disgusted by UK policy on refugees | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The mayor of Calais has told British MPs that she is disgusted that the UK has not offered to take refugees from her town, and demanded economic aid from Westminster. | The mayor of Calais has told British MPs that she is disgusted that the UK has not offered to take refugees from her town, and demanded economic aid from Westminster. |
| Natacha Bouchart told parliament’s home affairs select committee that David Cameron had shown contempt for the people of Calais after he said an offer of asylum for 20,000 refugees would not extend to those people who had already arrived in Europe. | Natacha Bouchart told parliament’s home affairs select committee that David Cameron had shown contempt for the people of Calais after he said an offer of asylum for 20,000 refugees would not extend to those people who had already arrived in Europe. |
| “I am disgusted by that. Understand the position we’ve been in for the last 15 years. If he doesn’t take refugees from Calais, that is proof that he is contemptuous of the population in Calais,” she said. | “I am disgusted by that. Understand the position we’ve been in for the last 15 years. If he doesn’t take refugees from Calais, that is proof that he is contemptuous of the population in Calais,” she said. |
| Related: Labour tells Theresa May to 'be British, be bold' in refugee crisis | Related: Labour tells Theresa May to 'be British, be bold' in refugee crisis |
| Nearly all of the migrants gathered in her town wanted to go to the UK, Bouchart said. “They demonstrate every day outside the town hall. Every day myself and my deputies say to them … if you want to stay in France you must claim asylum,” she said. | Nearly all of the migrants gathered in her town wanted to go to the UK, Bouchart said. “They demonstrate every day outside the town hall. Every day myself and my deputies say to them … if you want to stay in France you must claim asylum,” she said. |
| “Less than 10% want to stay in France. All the others want to come to England and we are going round and round in a circle. Even if we opened up 50,000 places in France they would not claim asylum in France.” | “Less than 10% want to stay in France. All the others want to come to England and we are going round and round in a circle. Even if we opened up 50,000 places in France they would not claim asylum in France.” |
| Bouchart said the government should make it clear that the UK is not an “El Dorado” for migrants. She claimed that people were attracted to Britain by the “ease of life”, citing the benefits system and access to jobs in the unofficial economy. | Bouchart said the government should make it clear that the UK is not an “El Dorado” for migrants. She claimed that people were attracted to Britain by the “ease of life”, citing the benefits system and access to jobs in the unofficial economy. |
| “Migrants say that when they get to England they can easily find work here. They can find accommodation and have some kind of benefits every day,” she said. “What I would like to ask the British government is to put in some kind of measures to regulate the migration flows so that we are not taken hostage in this situation. | “Migrants say that when they get to England they can easily find work here. They can find accommodation and have some kind of benefits every day,” she said. “What I would like to ask the British government is to put in some kind of measures to regulate the migration flows so that we are not taken hostage in this situation. |
| “You need to continue to assert and confirm that the UK is not an El Dorado for migrants. You need to take into account the population of Calais. They are suffering day and night for these problems.” | “You need to continue to assert and confirm that the UK is not an El Dorado for migrants. You need to take into account the population of Calais. They are suffering day and night for these problems.” |
| Related: Refugee crisis requires a united European response | Letters | Related: Refugee crisis requires a united European response | Letters |
| After MPs pointed to claims that benefits for asylum seekers were more generous in France and the black market easier to access and more lucrative, Bouchart said she was simply repeating what those living rough in Calais had told her. | After MPs pointed to claims that benefits for asylum seekers were more generous in France and the black market easier to access and more lucrative, Bouchart said she was simply repeating what those living rough in Calais had told her. |
| She also demanded “economic aid” from the British government. She said: “I am looking for about €50m [£36m] from national authorities and European authorities.” | She also demanded “economic aid” from the British government. She said: “I am looking for about €50m [£36m] from national authorities and European authorities.” |
| On Monday Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, announced that his country would take 20,000 refugees from the Syrian civil war, equalling the UK’s five-year commitment. | On Monday Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, announced that his country would take 20,000 refugees from the Syrian civil war, equalling the UK’s five-year commitment. |
| According to World Bank figures, Venezuela is in the top 20 biggest recipients of refugees worldwide. | According to World Bank figures, Venezuela is in the top 20 biggest recipients of refugees worldwide. |