Priti Patel accused of throwing good money after bad over Channel migrants

Tory MP criticises home secretary over 55m deal with France to double number of patrols off its coast

Handing 55m to French authorities to clamp down on migrants crossing the Channel in small boats is throwing good money after bad", the home secretary has been told by a Conservative colleague as she was grilled by MPs.

Priti Patel revealed late on Tuesday that she had agreed to pay the sum as part of a deal with the French interior minister, Gerald Darmanin, to double the number of officers patrolling the French coast.