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| David Cameron criticised over migrant 'swarm' language | David Cameron criticised over migrant 'swarm' language |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron has been criticised for his description of migrants trying to reach Britain as a "swarm". | David Cameron has been criticised for his description of migrants trying to reach Britain as a "swarm". |
| Speaking on the Calais crisis, he spoke of "a swarm of people coming across the Mediterranean, seeking a better life, wanting to come to Britain". | Speaking on the Calais crisis, he spoke of "a swarm of people coming across the Mediterranean, seeking a better life, wanting to come to Britain". |
| Labour leadership contender Andy Burnham said his choice of language was "disgraceful", and UKIP leader Nigel Farage distanced himself from the term. | Labour leadership contender Andy Burnham said his choice of language was "disgraceful", and UKIP leader Nigel Farage distanced himself from the term. |
| Hundreds of migrants tried to enter the Channel Tunnel overnight. | |
| Several hundred people were escorted away from the terminal by French police on Wednesday night - a third night of large-scale attempts to storm the Channel Tunnel. | Several hundred people were escorted away from the terminal by French police on Wednesday night - a third night of large-scale attempts to storm the Channel Tunnel. |
| Thousands of migrants have been trying to reach the UK from Calais this week, and nine people have been killed attempting to cross the Channel in the past month. | Thousands of migrants have been trying to reach the UK from Calais this week, and nine people have been killed attempting to cross the Channel in the past month. |
| 'Very testing' | 'Very testing' |
| Mr Cameron, who is on a tour of South East Asia, warned that illegal immigrants would be removed from the UK, saying Britain will not become a "safe haven" for migrants in Calais. | Mr Cameron, who is on a tour of South East Asia, warned that illegal immigrants would be removed from the UK, saying Britain will not become a "safe haven" for migrants in Calais. |
| He said the French had deployed an additional 120 police to the French port and the UK was investing in fencing and security measures. | He said the French had deployed an additional 120 police to the French port and the UK was investing in fencing and security measures. |
| He told the BBC "everything that can be done will be done to make sure our borders are secure and make sure that British holidaymakers are able to go on their holidays". | He told the BBC "everything that can be done will be done to make sure our borders are secure and make sure that British holidaymakers are able to go on their holidays". |
| Speaking to ITV News, the prime minister said the situation in Calais was "very testing". | Speaking to ITV News, the prime minister said the situation in Calais was "very testing". |
| "I accept that, because you have got a swarm of people coming across the Mediterranean, seeking a better life, wanting to come to Britain because Britain has got jobs, it's got a growing economy, it's an incredible place to live," he added. | "I accept that, because you have got a swarm of people coming across the Mediterranean, seeking a better life, wanting to come to Britain because Britain has got jobs, it's got a growing economy, it's an incredible place to live," he added. |
| His language drew criticism from Mr Burnham, who tweeted: "Cameron calling Calais migrants a "swarm" is nothing short of disgraceful. Confirms there's no dog-whistle these Bullingdon Boys won't blow." | His language drew criticism from Mr Burnham, who tweeted: "Cameron calling Calais migrants a "swarm" is nothing short of disgraceful. Confirms there's no dog-whistle these Bullingdon Boys won't blow." |
| And the Refugee Council, which works with refugees in the UK, said his comments were "irresponsible" and "dehumanising". | And the Refugee Council, which works with refugees in the UK, said his comments were "irresponsible" and "dehumanising". |
| "This sort of rhetoric is extremely inflammatory and comes at a time when the Government should be focused on working with its European counterparts to respond calmly and compassionately to this dreadful humanitarian crisis," it added. | "This sort of rhetoric is extremely inflammatory and comes at a time when the Government should be focused on working with its European counterparts to respond calmly and compassionately to this dreadful humanitarian crisis," it added. |
| Mr Farage, meanwhile, suggested it was part of an effort by Mr Cameron to sound "tough" on immigration. | Mr Farage, meanwhile, suggested it was part of an effort by Mr Cameron to sound "tough" on immigration. |
| "I'm not seeking to use language like that," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "The prime minister is trying to sound tough, whether he actually means it or not is a separate question." | "I'm not seeking to use language like that," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. "The prime minister is trying to sound tough, whether he actually means it or not is a separate question." |
| But speaking about his personal experience of the chaos at Calais earlier that morning Mr Farage told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "A couple of times I've been stuck on the motorway and surrounded by swarms of potential migrants to Britain and once, even, they tried the back door of the car to see whether they could get in." | But speaking about his personal experience of the chaos at Calais earlier that morning Mr Farage told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "A couple of times I've been stuck on the motorway and surrounded by swarms of potential migrants to Britain and once, even, they tried the back door of the car to see whether they could get in." |
| Political language | |
| The UN Special Representative for International Migration accused British politicians of adopting a "xenophobic response" to the migrants crisis and said their the language had been "grossly excessive". | The UN Special Representative for International Migration accused British politicians of adopting a "xenophobic response" to the migrants crisis and said their the language had been "grossly excessive". |
| Green Party deputy leader Shahrar Ali said: "People will be disgusted at Cameron's Calais comments and he should retract them immediately." | |
| David Cameron has previously warned politicians to choose their language "carefully" when talking about immigration. | |
| In 2014 Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said he "misspoke" after saying that some areas of the UK could be "swamped" by immigrants without changes to European Union rules on movement. | |
| The prime minister said at the time that Mr Fallon was "absolutely right" to have "corrected himself". | |
| "It is right for politicians to raise concerns about immigration, but we should always choose our language carefully. [Mr Fallon] said this morning that he wished he had chosen his language in a different way, and I agree with that," he told the House of Commons. |