Outrageous moment Chris Philp spots French Navy ‘waving goodbye’ to small boat migrants live on GB News

Watch the moment Chris Philp spots French navy officers “handing out lifejackets and waving goodbye” to migrants attempting to cross the English Channel.

The Shadow Home Secretary watched the shocking scenes unfurl while providing an update to GB News about a French warship firing 17 warning shots at the fishing boat carrying him earlier today.

Mr Philp was in the Channel to witness first-hand efforts to tackle the small boats crisis when the confrontation with the French vessel took place.

As he recounted the incident in the shadow of another warship, others aboard his fishing boat spotted French police appearing to "help migrants on their way" before they set off for British shores.

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“The boat is now probably 200 or 300 yards from the French shore… In just the last few minutes we've been talking, they’ve managed to get off the beach, having picked up the extra people.

“Did you see the French handing out life jackets?” Mr Philp asked one of the others on his boat, peering through binoculars, who confirmed.

“… and waving them goodbye. Are you kidding me? The French were waving them goodbye,” he said incredulously.

“The Rhib (rigid-hull inflatable boat) that had deployed from the French warship handed over the life jackets and then waved.

“Well, there we are. For half-a-billion pounds, that's what we're getting. Thank you very much, France,” the Shadow Home Secretary said.

In June, GB News obtained footage of a similar nature which showed the French navy tossing lifejackets to migrants as they made the crossing.

“The Belgians will intercept people on the beach, but the Belgians will also intercept these boats on the water and stop the boats on the water,” Mr Philp explained.

“That is why, after a short period of time, the migrants gave up trying to, or the illegal immigrants gave up trying to embark from Belgium.

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“The French claim that it is unsafe and against the law of the sea. That is nonsense. If the Belgians can do it, the French most certainly can, but they are simply choosing not to,” he fumed.

Earlier today, the Shadow Home Secretary posted footage to social media of a French warship firing 17 warning shots at his fishing vessel mid-interview.

“There was no notice or training exercise in place. Felt like warning shots or attempted intimidation,” he said, despite claims to the contrary from the French Navy.

“It was alarming,” Mr Philp told The People’s Channel about the experience.

“They fired those 17 shots at the closest point of approach with us. They didn't shoot them beforehand or afterwards. They shot them when they were very close to our boat.

“I can only imagine it was done to intimidate us. There was no warning given on the radio channels.”

“I'm afraid I don't accept the French government's explanation,” Mr Philp said.

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