{"id":642700,"date":"2025-12-19T18:36:54","date_gmt":"2025-12-19T18:36:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/642700\/"},"modified":"2025-12-19T18:36:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T18:36:54","slug":"migrant-crisis-tom-harwood-explodes-over-france-saying-they-will-push-back-empty-smuggler-boats-what-is-the-point","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/642700\/","title":{"rendered":"Migrant crisis: Tom Harwood explodes over France saying they will \u2018push back\u2019 empty smuggler boats: ‘What IS the point?!’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tom Harwood has lashed out after it emerged the French will only push back small boats if they are empty, asking “what is the point?”<\/p>\n

His outburst came as GB News’s Home and Security Editor Mark White revealed that French authorities will not push back full boats crossing the Channel and will now focus on the empty ones. <\/p>\n

A deal between the UK and France was struck last July and was unveiled by President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.<\/p>\n

Its focus was intercepting so-called “taxi boats”, used by people smugglers to cruise close to the coastline and collect passengers already standing in the water.<\/p>\n

French police rarely intervene when they see overcrowded taxi-boats as it is considered too great a risk to both officers and civilians.<\/p>\n

Mark said on GB News: “We were told this would allow the French maritime police to push back the small boats. <\/p>\n

“It\u2019s not happened. And it doesn\u2019t look like, if it does happen, the French are now saying they\u2019ll only do it with empty boats.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom Harwood fumed: \u201c<\/strong>What\u2019s the point in pushing? Sorry, well, what\u2019s the point in pushing a boat back if that boat is empty? Who is that helping?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Tom<\/p>\n

Tom Harwood fumed ‘what is the point’ <\/p>\n

| <\/p>\n

GB NEWS <\/p>\n

Mark replied: \u201cWell, the French say they\u2019re doing it on safety grounds, because you don\u2019t want to push a boat back that might capsize, even though it\u2019s in, you know, knee-high water.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tom said: \u201cIt beggars belief.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark White continued: \u201cListen, I share your frustration. It is just absolute and utter nonsense. <\/p>\n

“You either do this pushback policy or just don\u2019t bother. You know why?\u201d<\/p>\n

\"'What<\/p>\n

Tom Harwood <\/p>\n

GB News’s Dawn Neesom added: \u201cAnd yeah, I mean, the frustration is palpable, obviously.<\/p>\n

“But the serious side of this many of these are undocumented young men, and we know many of them go on to commit assaults on women. <\/p>\n

“So the Government is saying we\u2019re looking after women and girls. Meanwhile, we\u2019ve got lots of young men coming across the Channel.<\/p>\n

“We don\u2019t know who they are. I\u2019m not saying they\u2019re all sexist thugs or anything, but many of them come from countries that literally sell women into slavery.\u201d<\/p>\n

The outburst comes after last weekend\u2019s saw a surge of more than 750 people making the illegal crossing of the Channel, fuelling growing frustration over the Government\u2019s handling of the crisis and critics accusing French authorities of hiding behind safety excuses.<\/p>\n

This year’s total has now exceeded 40,000, making 2025 as the second busiest year on record for small boat crossings.<\/p>\n

The figures represent a significant challenge for the Labour Government, which has outlined multiple strategies to address the crisis since entering office.<\/p>\n

Ministers have sought to overhaul its approach to the migrant crisis by imposing restrictions on benefits and cracking down on illegal working – an approach they hope will deter people considering heading to Britain.<\/p>\n

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