‘Urgent talks’ over Channel crossing deaths to be held by Home Secretary

Priti Patel will hold ‘urgent talks’ with her European counterparts this week over Channel crossings after the deaths of 27 people.

The home secretary spoke today to the Dutch migration minister on the phone. The call came after Ms Patel was dis-invited from a meeting of European interior ministers.

Tonight they agreed that an EU plane would patrol the French coast. But the French said they wouldn’t be held hostage by Britain’s domestic politics.