Priti Patel says Macron ‘absolutely wrong’ over Channel crossings

Home secretary rebuffs French claim UK immigration policy encourages people to risk dangerous journey

Priti Patel, the home secretary, has said Emmanuel Macron is wrong to say the UK's immigration policy is encouraging people to risk their lives crossing the Channel from France.

In a further escalation of the row between the two countries, Patel has dismissed claims by the French president that Britain's immigration system favours clandestine migration and does not allow for asylum seekers to seek legal ways into the country.