Tory politician accuses French warship of firing shots near him in English Channel

WorldPolitics
28 Jul 2026 • 6:49 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Tory politician accuses French warship of firing shots near him in English Channel

  • A French warship has been accused of "attempted intimidation" after allegedly firing 17 warning shots within 300 metres of shadow home secretary Chris Philp in the English Channel.
  • The incident occurred while Mr Philp, a Conservative MP, was on a fishing boat filming a video about small boat crossings, with a French Navy officer reportedly firing a handgun away from the vessel.
  • Both Mr Philp and the fishing boat's captain, Matt Coker, interpreted the firing as an attempt to intimidate them and deter coverage of migrant crossings, noting the shots were fired at the closest point to their boat during a TV interview.
  • Prime minister Andy Burnham stated that the government's plans to tackle small boat crossings are "working", despite admitting there is "more to do" and nearly 900 migrants having crossed since he took office.
  • Recent Home Office figures indicate 13,007 migrant arrivals this year, a 45 per cent decrease compared to the same period last year and an 18 per cent decrease from 2024.

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