Channel crossings are an English issue, says French minister

UK accused of having a labour market akin to modern slavery that encourages people to make risky crossings

Senior French ministers have accused the UK of operating a labour market akin to slavery and called on London to open safe routes for migrants, as the two governments continued to deflect blame for last week's drownings in the Channel.

The criticism came hours after France's interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, held a crisis meeting with European ministers and border agencies to discuss the migrant emergency around the Channel ports.