French navy escorts dozens of migrants across the Channel before asking UK Border Force to pick them up – while cheering asylum seekers thank Keir Starmer as they land on our shores
Dozens of migrants crossed the Channel this morning, escorted by the French navy, who even asked border guards to pick them up.
Numerous boats made the journey on a busy day with smugglers filling up boats as the winter months approached.
They thanked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for his ‘help’ – as Labor numbers continue to rise.
An Iranian family – including two pregnant women – boarded one boat.
The French navy escorted another packed boat with 50 migrants on board across the water and ordered British Border Police officers to keep an eye on others.
In extraordinary scenes, radio reports showed the French warship speaking to Border Force personnel aboard the cutter Typhoon.
Dozens of migrants crossed the Channel this morning, escorted by the French navy – who even asked border guards to pick them up
The French navy escorted another packed boat with 50 migrants on board across the water and ordered British Border Police to keep an eye on others
In extraordinary scenes, radio reports showed the French warship Aber Ildut speaking to Border Force personnel aboard the cutter Typhoon.
A boat also crossed with 16 Iranian men and women, all from the same family
They traveled in a Yamaha smart boat worth around £5,000, including the engine
Some wore designer clothes, including an Icono Couture hoodie. And they were also on their iPhones, presumably to keep smugglers in France informed of the progress of their journey
A group of up to fifty migrants were seen making the journey in a large rubber boat across the English Channel
In the photo: Three men from the boat carrying a family of sixteen Iranian migrants, including two pregnant women
The family of 16 Iranians included two pregnant women who said they felt “terrified.”
They discussed the boat with 50 on board as it headed for British waters after being observed by the French.
The French naval officer said, “Typhoon, this is the French warship.
“We are conducting search and rescue, a small dinghy ahead of you, do you see it?”
Border guard: ‘Yes, we have an idea of it?’
French naval officer: ‘Are you picking him up?’
Border Force: ‘Yes, I am processing the last migrant boat and will collect it in a few moments.’
French Navy: ‘Thank you.’
A boat also crossed with 16 Iranian men and women, all from the same family.
They spoke to our reporter as they traveled in a Yamaha smart boat worth around £5,000, including the engine.
The group included two pregnant women who said they felt “terrified.”
Some wore designer clothes, including an Icono Couture hoodie.
They said they spent £2,000 to £3,000 each for the trip and paid in advance
One of them also proudly declared himself a ‘refugee’ and the group cheered and shouted with joy as they approached Britain
But the big smile returned when the boat started working again and they headed for Dover, where a Border Force ship joined them.
When asked if they were looking for work in Britain, one person replied: ‘No, we are refugees’
One member of the family said: ‘This is great. We would like to thank Prime Minister Keir Starmer’
And they were also on their iPhones, presumably to keep smugglers in France informed of the progress of their journey.
They said they spent £2,000 to £3,000 each on the trip and paid in advance.
One of them also proudly declared himself a ‘refugee’ and the group cheered and shouted with joy as they approached Britain.
Panic ensued when their boat briefly broke down and they thought the French would be able to pick them up because they were in French waters.
But the big smile returned when the boat started working again and they headed for Dover, where a Border Force ship joined them.
One said: ‘This is amazing. We would like to thank Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
‘There are sixteen of us here and we are refugees.
‘We have a woman here who is four months pregnant. She’s very cold, we all are.’
When asked if they were looking for work in Britain, someone replied: “No, we are refugees.”
One stood up and said: ‘We don’t want to go back to France. We have to go to Great Britain. We want to go to England. Please, England. Not France. We don’t want the French Navy. We call 999 for help’
At this point the boat lay still for several minutes until the engine started working and it was one of a number of boats making the journey to Dover.
Several of those on board had life jackets – and one even dangled his feet in the water as he relaxed
But others wore thin yellow tape around their waists as an improvised and cheaper life jacket
Another group of up to fifty migrants in a larger boat crosses the Channel and sets sail for Britain
When their boat stopped working, panic struck.
One stood up and said: ‘We don’t want to go back to France. We have to go to Great Britain.
‘We want to go to England. Please, England. Not France.
‘We don’t want the French navy.
‘We will call 999 for help.’
At this point the boat lay still for several minutes until the engine started working and it was one of a number of boats making the journey to Dover.
Several of those on board had life jackets – and one even dangled his feet in the water as he relaxed.
But others wore thin yellow tape around their waists as an improvised and cheaper life jacket.