Tories accused of having 'blood on hands' after six migrants die in Channel

12 August 2023 , 20:35

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Migrants brought to Dover by a Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) lifeboat (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

At least six more migrants died trying to cross the Channel today as the Tories were accused of having “blood on their hands”.

Rescuers saved dozens but two were still missing at sea tonight. The tragedy unfolded almost two years to the day that 27 drowned. MPs demanded ministers ditch gimmicky policies and “get a grip”.

The horrifying Channel tragedy has claimed the lives of at least six people as the Tories’ migrant crisis mounts. Two more were missing tonight after two small boats sank in poor weather off Sangatte in the early hours of today.

Witnesses described desperate passengers screaming in a flimsy, overloaded inflatable and trying to bail out the flooded vessel with their shoes. French officials said one of the boats was spotted struggling at around 2am and had over 60 people on board.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman (PA)

Forty-nine were rescued – 36 by the French and 13 by the British. Six Afghan men in their 20s and 30s were later declared dead. Survivors included children and were mostly from Afghanistan, with some from Sudan.

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Another 22 people were saved from another sinking boat, including one in a critical condition. Rescue craft included an RNLI lifeboat launched just before 4am and a British chartered ship. The tragedy unfolded almost two years to the day 27 migrants drowned when their inflatable craft collapsed.

The tragedy happened off the coast of France

Paul O’Connor, of the Public and Commercial Services union, which represents Border Force staff, said the Government had “blood on its hands”. He said: “It’s clear they have no desire to prevent these dangerous crossings. They don’t care that people die as a result.

“Instead, they’re pouring taxpayers’ money down the drain on policies which are unlawful, unworkable and doomed to failure. They want to scapegoat refugees to deflect from their catastrophic failings.” Rescuers say it is the seventh time in a week they have had to pull people from the water.

Men are brought to share by the RNLI (AFP via Getty Images)

The latest tragedy comes just hours after the plan to house asylum seekers on a barge turned into a fiasco. All 39 placed on the Bibby Stockholm off Dorset have been rehoused four days after arrival because of legionella bacteria – which causes lung infection legionnaire’s disease – in the water supply.

Furious Tory MPs called the situation an “utter farce” which proved the Home Office was “not fit for purpose”. On Thursday 755 people crossed the Channel in small boats – the highest daily number so far this year.

Paramedics wait to attend to migrants picked up at sea (AFP via Getty Images)

Another 343 crossed on Friday, taking the provisional total for the year so far to more than 16,000. Steve Smith, of refugee charity Care4Calais, said: “This terrible loss of life demonstrates yet again the need for a system of safe passage for refugees. This would enable them to apply for asylum in France, then travel safely to the UK without risking their lives.”

Liberal Democrat MP Wendy ­Chamberlain said: “How many more tragedies does it take before this Conservative Government and Suella Braverman stop their nasty rhetoric and cruel policies and get a grip?” An Afghan mum who found asylum here in 2021 has shared her grief. Najma Ahmadi, 33, who paid traffickers £4,400 and now lives in London, said: “It’s really painful and terrible. I remembered my own crossing of the Channel, which was really dangerous. When a person decides to migrate, they are between life and death.”

Najma Ahmadi, 33, paid traffickers £4,400 and now lives in London (Najma Ahmadi)

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: “My prayers are with those affected by the tragic loss of life.” The Government added: “This incident is sadly another reminder of the extreme dangers of crossing the Channel in small boats and how vital it is we break the people smugglers’ business model and stop the boats.”

Patrick Hill