In the olden days, Tory governments used to send gun-boats round the world to have a go at people in other countries who were not behaving as the Brits thought they should. These days, not able to afford the gun-boats any longer, the Party lets London Euro-MEP Syed Kamall write foreign transgressors a pompous letter. Let’s see if that works any better than the gun-boats did.
Kamall is no ordinary Tory MEP: he is the Leader of the European Conservative and Reformists Group (the political group the Tories belong to in the EU). He’s very put out that ferry workers have been going on strike, because this has disrupted travel for British citizens and encouraged migrants to try to sneak into the UK.
The ferry workers probably have a different point of view. Their jobs are at risk because a new company has taken over the business and thinks it only needs half as many workers as it used to have. Their action has caused disruption to travellers, but (a) their employers’ action has disrupted their lives too and (b) travellers are likely to find their journeys disrupted (and possibly less safe) if half of them are sacked and everyone who’s left has to do, in effect, two jobs.
Suppose the European Parliament were to agree to save money by sacking all its cleaners and asking MEPs to double up the work. What would Kamall say then? “Spiffing idea! I’ll just finish these letters, then hand me the bleach and a scrubbing brush!”
Kamall is also worried that vehicles waiting to cross the Channel would be targeted by migrants seeking to enter the UK. Ironically, Kamall is very open on his own CV that his father came to the UK to seek work when it was legal to do so. By implication Kamall is critical of migrants seeking to enter the UK for the same reason his own father came here – a route which is now only open to the rich.
Anyway, so put out by the ferry workers’ action is he that Kamall has written a very strong letter to the French Ambassador demanding that the French Government keeps Calais open for British travellers to use. It’s hard to imagine a more pompous and downright rude letter or a better example of Tory values – demanding that Johnny Foreigner comply with UK requirements. The only surprise is that Kamall didn’t point out that Calais used to be owned by the British monarchy – and threaten to take it back and make the French sit on the naughty step.
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The letter reads:
Dear Ambassador Sellal,
In recent weeks British travellers and hauliers have faced severe disruption and inconvenience at the hands of French trade union activists that have deliberately sought to obstruct a major artery of European trade and travel.
Under EU rules France is obliged to ensure the free passage of individuals through this major transit route, which is crucial for commerce and acts as the gateway to the Continent.
Ferry workers of course have a right to protest, but they do not have a right to blockade this entry and exit point several times, causing damage that obstructs cross-border services for days.
My constituents in London have faced significant disruption and financial losses as a result of this action, which has caused Eurostar services to be cancelled. This is not their fight.
I would appreciate if you could let me know if and when the French government intends to step in and fulfil its responsibility as a European Union Member State to keep this cross-border transit hub open. I’m sure that you are aware that the British government has offered financial assistance and hardware aimed at protecting critical infrastructure. If your government continues to be unable to meet its core obligation then I look forward to hearing how you plan to compensate the British travellers, businesses and hauliers that have suffered inconvenience and lost earnings.
I would ask that you forward this message to your government.
Yours sincerely,
Syed Kamall MEP