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Border checks in France 'now in danger' after Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart reacts to Brexit result

A border agreement that allows the UK to carry out checks on the French side of the channel could be under threat following the “Brexit” referendum result.

If the arrangement ends, there have been claims that it would mean that migrant camps in Calais could be established in Dover or Folkestone.

Those claims gained some credence almost immediately yesterday.

There are fears of delays at Dover Docks due to Brexit
There are fears of delays at Dover Docks due to Brexit

Natacha Bouchart, the Calais mayor, said yesterday she would push for the border agreement to be suspended in the wake of the referendum result.

She said: "The British must take on the consequences of their choice. We are in a strong position to push, to press this request for a review and we are asking the president to bring his weight (to the issue).

"We must put everything on the table and there must be an element of division, of sharing."

French mayor, Natacha Bouchart, says the UK has an 'El Dorado' appeal
French mayor, Natacha Bouchart, says the UK has an 'El Dorado' appeal

Xavier Bertrand, the centre-right president of the Hauts-de-France region, had earlier tweeted: "The English wanted to take back their freedom, they must take back their border."

The possibility that a Brexit could trigger an end to the bi-lateral Le Touquet treaty allowing UK border controls to be carried out in France was raised by the Prime Minister earlier in the year.

He said that here are "any number of opposition politicians" in France who would "love" to tear up the deal.

South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay
South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay

At the time, the French authorities rejected the claim and Kent MP Craig Mackinlay said it was “scaremongering of the worst kind".

He said: "There is no more likelihood of migrant camps setting up in Dover or Folkestone than there is currently around Heathrow as whatever happens with the bilateral treaty with France we have s40 Immigration Act 1999 and the Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2005 which requires carriers to carry out ‘leave to enter’ checks and provide passenger manifests, else face fines."

MP Charlie Elphicke.
MP Charlie Elphicke.

But Dover MP Charlie Elphicke, a self professed eurosceptic, said the threat was one of the main reasons why he was supporting the “stay” campaign.

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