Johnson insulting France over Channel crossings will only make things worse | Simon Jenkins

The prime minister’s pointlessly macho stance is putting the UK ever more at odds with its closest neighbour

France’s interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, is a sensitive soul. He dislikes British politicians saying nice things to him in private, then turning round and using “insulting” and “strongly unfriendly” language in the House of Commons and the press. He is particularly upset by his British opposite number, Priti Patel, and her boss, Boris Johnson, doing this on the topic of immigration.

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