Sulking EU chiefs are prolonging the migrant boats disaster as a punishment for Brexit, a former British borders chief has steered.

Tony Smith mentioned their refusal to debate a deal to take again those that cross the Channel illegally smacked of “punishment” for voting to go away the EU.

He additionally blasted their “hypocrisy” in blocking efforts to strike a deal which may save lives, cease organised crime and ease the asylum disaster costing taxpayers £6million a day. Mr Smith,

who served as director basic of the Border Force throughout a Home Office profession of greater than 40 years, mentioned the “only sure-fire way” to cease the boats is to make it clear unlawful migrants will probably be despatched again.

But he mentioned the EU’s refusal to debate a brand new returns pact at a time when determined folks have been routinely drowning has left him questioning if “this is some sort of a Brexit punishment”.

In an interview with the Sunday Express, he declared: “People are dying in our common Channel between the EU and the UK. We’ve got international organised crime on our doorsteps. It is causing untold misery.”

Exclusive polling by Omnisis exhibits robust assist for sending again unlawful arrivals. When requested if “undocumented immigrants who enter from an EU country be sent back to that country”, 63 p.c mentioned sure. Only 19 p.c disagreed.

Senior Tories have referred to as on Eurocrats to “stop sulking and get cracking” to cease criminals “running riot” and inflicting deaths at sea.

French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to strike a returns deal and is

adamant that any association should be agreed with the EU.

But the European Commission insists it has “no mandate” to take action.

Mr Smith, who ran Border Force in 2012 and 2013, hit out simply days after six Afghans died when their packed small boat capsized as they tried to cross the Channel.

The skilled official, awarded the CBE for companies to the protection and safety of London throughout the 2012 Olympics, believes EU divisions over asylum are an additional explanation for the intransigence.

He declared: “The EU has not got its own house in order. I think European Com-missioners are being hypocritical in suggesting they are not prepared to talk to us about something that could actually save lives and help us to stop criminality.”

High-profile Conservatives at the moment are calling on Brussels to place politics apart and strike a deal.

Marco Longhi, who sits on the Commons Home Affairs committee, mentioned: “The European Commission should move heaven and earth to strike a repatriation agreement with the UK without delay. It is in the interests of both sides to ensure that any illegal migrant is sent back immediately.

“This could shatter the foul business model of the criminal gangs and – crucially – stop lives being lost.

“It would be an outrage if the EU allows internal divisions and lingering anger about Brexit to thwart an urgently needed deal.”

Natalie Elphicke pressured that it was within the EU’s pursuits to achieve an settlement.

The Dover MP mentioned: “Illegal migration is a European-wide problem. Stopping the Channel crossings doesn’t just help the UK, it helps the EU too, reducing a major pull factor that affects the entire continent. We worked together in the past to stop people being smuggled in the backs of lorries. That’s what needs to happen again to stop the small boats.

“It’s in no one’s interests for organised crime to run riot through Northern France and the EU as a whole.”

And Daniel Kawczynski mentioned EU divisions have been “no excuse not to agree a common sense deal which would result in illegal arrivals being sent back immediately”.

The Shrewsbury and Atcham MP added: “Eurocrats have the chance to save lives by agreeing a loophole-free repatriation agreement that would put the people smugglers out of business and save lives. They should stop sulking and get cracking.”

A European Commission spokesman mentioned: “As we already said in the past, the European Commission has no mandate to negotiatea return and re-admission agreement with the UK.”

He added that Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, is negotiating with the UK “with the objective of strengthening co-operation on common migration challenges”.

Last week France’s former ambassador to the UK, Sylvie Bermann, mentioned it was “totally delusionary” to anticipate that “no one will cross the Channel”.

This got here because it was revealed the variety of migrants stopped by French police has fallen regardless of a £480million deal to reinforce seaside patrols.

Only 45.2 p.c have been halted from January to mid-August, in contrast with 45.8 p.c in the identical interval in 2022.

More than 25,000 small-boat crossings have been made since Mr Sunak turned PM, in keeping with Labour evaluation.

And Shadow immigration minister Stephen Kinnock mentioned a brand new “returns deal” is required.

“The Conservatives have allowed criminal smuggling gangs take hold on Britain’s borders – and Tory incompetence is risking our national security, putting lives at risk, and pounding the public purse for millions every day,” he mentioned.

“Rishi Sunak has fundamentally failed to get a grip and crossings are rocketing on his watch. It’s time for a different approach.

“The Prime Minister must now back Labour’s plan to stop the dangerous crossings by going after the criminal gangs.”

But a Conservative spokesman shot again: “Sir Keir Starmer and his fellow lefty lawyers oppose any and every practical measure to stop the boats. A vote for Labour would be a vote for more boats, more hotels and more pressure on public services.

“Only the Conservatives have made stopping the boats a priority.”