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Calais crisis: Government holds emergency Cobra meeting over French strikers and migrants Calais crisis: Government holds emergency Cobra meeting over French strikers and migrants
(34 minutes later)
The Government held an emergency Cobra meeting as the Calais ferry strike entered its fourth day, putting a labour dispute by French workers on a par with terrorist attacks and foot-and-mouth disease as threats to the nation.The Government held an emergency Cobra meeting as the Calais ferry strike entered its fourth day, putting a labour dispute by French workers on a par with terrorist attacks and foot-and-mouth disease as threats to the nation.
With thousands of lorries queuing across the Kent countryside, Tim Waggott, chief executive of the Port of Dover, said the disruption to services was costing the UK economy at least £250m a day.With thousands of lorries queuing across the Kent countryside, Tim Waggott, chief executive of the Port of Dover, said the disruption to services was costing the UK economy at least £250m a day.
More than 3,000 truckers were parked on the M20 in Kent for a fourth day as the partial closure of the Port of Calais continued to cripple Channel crossings.More than 3,000 truckers were parked on the M20 in Kent for a fourth day as the partial closure of the Port of Calais continued to cripple Channel crossings.
The Road Haulage Association called for armed forces to break the strike – if that was necessary to restore crossings – warning that jobs were at risk.The Road Haulage Association called for armed forces to break the strike – if that was necessary to restore crossings – warning that jobs were at risk.
Lorries parked along the M20 at Ashford, Kent (Getty)
The Cobra meeting was chaired by Cabinet minister Oliver Letwin with the Home Secretary Theresa May in Paris to meet her French counterpart, Bernard Cazeneuve.The Cobra meeting was chaired by Cabinet minister Oliver Letwin with the Home Secretary Theresa May in Paris to meet her French counterpart, Bernard Cazeneuve.
They issued a joint statement which said they had “emphasised the importance of a rapid resumption of maritime and rail traffic, which is indispensable to economic development on both sides of the Channel”.They issued a joint statement which said they had “emphasised the importance of a rapid resumption of maritime and rail traffic, which is indispensable to economic development on both sides of the Channel”.
However, the main point of the meeting was to discuss thousands of migrants who have been attempting to cross the Channel by hiding on lorries and other vehicles.However, the main point of the meeting was to discuss thousands of migrants who have been attempting to cross the Channel by hiding on lorries and other vehicles.
Ms May agreed that the UK would pay more money into a £10.6m fund designed to increase security at the Port of Calais.Ms May agreed that the UK would pay more money into a £10.6m fund designed to increase security at the Port of Calais.
“This will enable the installation of additional essential arrangements to prevent access to the port via the beach, but also to secure access to the Channel Tunnel, where incidents have taken place repeatedly over the past weeks,” they said.“This will enable the installation of additional essential arrangements to prevent access to the port via the beach, but also to secure access to the Channel Tunnel, where incidents have taken place repeatedly over the past weeks,” they said.
An information campaign “to inform migrants of the reality of Great Britain’s asylum and benefits system, to reduce the flow of migrants to Calais” will also be stepped up.An information campaign “to inform migrants of the reality of Great Britain’s asylum and benefits system, to reduce the flow of migrants to Calais” will also be stepped up.
Some of the migrants have been taking advantage of the standing queues of lorries on the French side to try to find a place to hide on vehicles, while some drivers have complained of being besieged.Some of the migrants have been taking advantage of the standing queues of lorries on the French side to try to find a place to hide on vehicles, while some drivers have complained of being besieged.
Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, said the situation was “absolute mayhem”.Richard Burnett, chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, said the situation was “absolute mayhem”.
“The time for talking around the table has passed. The UK and French governments must acknowledge their responsibilities to all Port of Calais users, move in and act,” he said. “If this means deployment of the armed forces then so be it.”“The time for talking around the table has passed. The UK and French governments must acknowledge their responsibilities to all Port of Calais users, move in and act,” he said. “If this means deployment of the armed forces then so be it.”
And Dan Bridget, a spokesman for P&O Ferries, told BBC Radio 4’s World At One: “The French authorities have legal obligations to keep the port open. It’s the biggest port in France, you’d expect them to do that. We are still urging them to move more quickly to open the port.And Dan Bridget, a spokesman for P&O Ferries, told BBC Radio 4’s World At One: “The French authorities have legal obligations to keep the port open. It’s the biggest port in France, you’d expect them to do that. We are still urging them to move more quickly to open the port.
“We’re a cross-Channel ferry operator and for two days this week we haven’t been able to operate cross-Channel ferries, so clearly it’s not an ideal situation.”“We’re a cross-Channel ferry operator and for two days this week we haven’t been able to operate cross-Channel ferries, so clearly it’s not an ideal situation.”
He warned there would “clearly be knock-on effects for the British economy as a whole” if the strike was allowed to continue.He warned there would “clearly be knock-on effects for the British economy as a whole” if the strike was allowed to continue.