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UK To Blame For Migrant Crisis - French Politician

A former French minister has said the UK's labour laws are to blame for the growing number of migrants trying to cross the Channel.

Ex-employment minister Xavier Bertand told Sky News the UK must change its employment laws if it hopes to reduce migrant figures.

It follows another night where hundreds of desperate migrants tried to storm the Channel Tunnel .

"They (migrants) don't want to stay in Calais," said Mr Bertrand, who is currently running for mayor of the Calais region.

"They want to go to England to find a job because they know it is possible to work without an identity card.

"In England, you have to change your policy."

About 200 migrants broke through several layers of security overnight in a bid to reach Britain before they were stopped by French riot police armed with chemical spray.

The migrants and security forces faced off for close to an hour, with the migrants shouting slogans including "open the border" and "we are not animals".

It is thought migrants are becoming increasingly desperate to cross the Channel after the Government announced it was sending security reinforcements to Calais.

Britain has pledged to pay for 200 extra private security guards, additional fences and more CCTV to help ramp up security.

France is also sending police reinforcements as part of the new package of measures.

Meanwhile, Home Secretary Theresa May and France's Interior Minister have called on the EU to step in to help Britain and France find a long-term solution to the "global migration crisis".

Ms May and Bernard Cazeneuve said the chaos in Calais was not only a problem for the UK and France.

In an article for The Sunday Telegraph, they said: "We are both clear: tackling this situation is the top priority for the UK and French governments.

"We are committed and determined to solve this, and to solve it together. What we are currently facing is a global migration crisis.

"This situation cannot be seen as an issue just for our two countries. It is a priority at both a European and international level.

"Many of those in Calais and attempting to cross the Channel have made their way there through Italy, Greece or other countries.

"That is why we are pushing other member states, and the whole of the EU, to address this problem at root."

It comes after David Cameron called French President Francois Hollande to discuss the migrant crisis.

The Prime Minister has warned the crisis, which has seen some 5,000 migrants lay siege to the tunnel in the hope of reaching Britain, could last all summer.

:: As the migrant crisis continues, Sky's Alex Crawford travels to the source of the problem: Watch People Smuggler - World's Most Wanted on Sunday at 9pm on Sky News. Also available on Catch Up.