“It is bonkers for the Calais authorities to do anything which encourages migrants to come to their city, it’ll only create problems for us [in UK] next,” Conservative Party Member of Parliament (MP) Michael Ellis was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail Thursday.
While another Conservative MP, Philip Hollobone, earlier last year said the plans for a new camp were “completely unacceptable” adding that it would become “a refueling stop for illegal immigrants trying to get to Britain,” as quoted by UK's express online newspaper.
But Calais Mayor Natacha Bouchart said the town was under an "unbearable strain" from the highest number of migrants ever seen in the town. "We cannot stay with our arms folded," she was quoted as saying by Express.
In December, French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said it would cost about three million euros to run the camp each year, funded by the European Union to which Britain contributes via taxpayers.
Almost 12,000 attempted entries by illegal immigrants were recorded in the first four months of 2014 at UK ports and at Calais, the closest French town to the United Kingdom.
A Home Office spokesperson said in November the United Kingdom was making significant investments in ports in Northern France, where Calais is situated, to prevent migrants from illegally entering the country, 18,000 migrants blocked as of April 2014.
The United Kingdom is one of the most popular destinations for migrants due to perceived favorable social benefits, from free health care to a generous welfare system. Recently, there were some 2,500 African migrants in Calais seeking entry into the United Kingdom.
