A rising star French politician has demanded the UK take responsibility for detaining thousands of illegal immigrants currently stranded in Calais.
Xavier Bertrand, a minister in successive French governments, wrote to David Cameron telling him to open a new detention centre at Dover for failed asylum seekers.
He blamed British “security flaws” for encouraging waves of migrants to believe they could head for Calais in hope of crossing the channel.
Bertrand also argued the Royal Navy should take part in a blockade of Libya to stop migrants reaching mainland Europe in the first place.
In an open letter to Mr Cameron he said: “The migration crisis we are experiencing in the European Union threatens the cohesion of both our societies.
“You have expressed the desire to ‘work very closely with the French’.
“But what we need, in fact, is a strong commitment from your government.”
The French politician, who is hoping to become president of the Calais region, said Mr Cameron “must accept” a renegotiation of the 2003 le Touquet Treaty.
The deal signed by Tony Blair’s government sees cross-Channel route checks carried out before passengers board trains and ferries rather than on arrival.
French politicians claim it means Calais has become a “waiting room” for migrants desperate to reach the UK.
Saying the border should now be moved to Dover, Bertrand goes on: “Controlling your southern border cannot be France’s sole responsibility.”
He said failed asylum seekers or people refusing to submit to the immigration process should be returned to their homeland from the proposed Dover site.
As well as calling for a naval blockade to stem the flow of migrants, Bertrand called for stronger UK identity checks.
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He added: “If the migrants are attracted to the UK, it is because of your security flaws and the ease of finding a job there without proper identification.”
Earlier this year Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart also called for the Le Touquet Treaty to be scrapped.
