Lee Anderson Heads to a French Migrant Camp to See the Truth for Himself, But His Visit Takes an Unexpected Turn
Lee Anderson, the chairman of Reform UK, has claimed he was stopped by armed French police just minutes after arriving at a migrant camp in northern France.
Speaking live to GB News from Loon-Plage in northern France, Anderson said he and his team had travelled there to see the situation for themselves. He claimed they were quickly approached by heavily armed French police officers, who stopped them from going onto the beach.
According to Anderson, the officers asked to see their identification and requested press passes from the journalists with the group. He said they were not allowed to continue onto the beach, even though they were there on what he described as a fact-finding visit.
During the interview, GB News presenter Ellie Costello questioned Anderson about Reform UK’s proposal to use the Royal Navy to stop small boats crossing the English Channel. She pointed out that French officials have criticised the idea, saying it could break international law and violate France’s sovereignty.
Anderson rejected those claims. He argued that the plan would not break any laws because it would be carried out as a rescue operation. He said that once small inflatable boats enter the water, the people onboard are at serious risk of injury or drowning.
He said the aim would be to rescue those on the boats and return them safely to France. Anderson described it as a humanitarian mission rather than an attempt to violate French waters.
He also criticised the French Government, saying Britain has provided France with almost £1 billion over recent years to help stop illegal Channel crossings. He argued that if France truly wants to end the people-smuggling trade, it should work more closely with the UK.
Speaking about his encounter with French police, Anderson said his group arrived at around 4 a.m. wearing high-visibility jackets and carrying cameras. He claimed that within minutes, officers arrived carrying tear gas and questioned what they were doing.
He said the police checked their identification and the journalists’ credentials before stopping them from reaching the beach. Anderson added that he wished French authorities would show the same level of urgency when migrants are preparing to board small boats for the dangerous journey to Britain.
Anderson also described the conditions inside the migrant camp, which is located between Calais and Dunkirk. He said the camp was large and that many people were living in very poor conditions.
He said his team had first visited a nearby beach early in the morning to look for signs of attempted Channel crossings. Although they did not witness any boats leaving, he said they found evidence that crossings had happened before, including a damaged inflatable dinghy left on the beach.
Afterwards, they travelled to the nearby migrant camp. Anderson said there were bonfires burning, rubbish scattered around the site, aid workers from non-governmental organisations, and migrants living in what he described as dirty and difficult conditions.
He said many of the people in the camp had travelled thousands of miles from their home countries and were now waiting there before attempting to cross the English Channel.
Anderson questioned why so many migrants were choosing to stay in these camps instead of applying for asylum in France.
Responding to the interview, a Home Office spokesperson said the Government is continuing its efforts to reduce small boat crossings. The spokesperson said removals of migrants who arrived by small boats are at record levels and that asylum claims have fallen by 12%.
The Home Office also said that nearly 70,000 people who were in the UK illegally have been removed or deported, representing a 41% increase. The spokesperson added that the Government plans to continue taking action to reduce the incentives that encourage illegal migration to Britain.
