FRANCE’S President Emmanuel Macron has again offered to loan the Bayeux Tapestry to Britain — but was accused of trying to stitch us up on migration.
He and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will today announce the artwork depicting the Battle of Hastings will return to Britain for a visit for the first time in more than 900 years.
AFPPeople look at the ‘Bayeux tapestry’ or ‘Queen Mathilde tapestry’ which relates Britain’s conquest by William the Conqueror[/caption]
APThe Bayeux tapestry depicts the events of the Norman Conquest[/caption]
Shutterstock EditorialMacron has been accused of trying to stitch us up on migration[/caption]
But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned last night: “Thanks for the Bayeux Tapestry but don’t even think about trying to stitch us up for more migration cash.”
Experts believe the tapestry was made in England following William the Conqueror’s 1066 invasion and shipped to Normandy.
Mr Macron had agreed to loan it to us in 2018, although it never materialised.
The deal came as the President and wife Brigitte flew into RAF Northolt in West London yesterday, where they were met by the Prince and Princess of Wales.
They later joined the King and Queen for a procession in Windsor town centre.
But the tapestry announcement has been eclipsed by crunch talks on the Channel migrant crisis, which are going right down to the wire before a summit between Mr Macron and Sir Keir this week.
A deal is expected to confirm new French tactics of puncturing small boats in the shallows, while a “one in, one out” returns agreement is still in the balance.
That arrangement is likely to centre on small boat migrants being returned to France in exchange for asylum-seekers who have family in the UK.
The deal has provoked a fresh row over cash, with Mr Macron expected to demand more money on top of the £480million already handed over since 2023 for his country to help stop small boat crossings.
Despite the costs to taxpayers mounting as crossings reached a record rate this year, No10 has refused to rule out stumping up more cash for the French.
Yesterday, Mr Macron said illegal migration had become a burden for both Britain and France and promised “tangible results”.
Addressing Parliament, he said: “The hope for better life elsewhere is legitimate.
“But we cannot allow our rules for taking in people to be flouted by criminal networks cynically exploiting the hopes of so many individuals.”
He promised the “best ever cooperation between our two countries in order to fix today, what is a burden for our two countries”.
But the Euro-fanatic President — who could not resist branding Brexit as “deeply regrettable” — insisted that only continental-wide cooperation would stop the people-smuggling gangs.
Last night, migrants waiting in Calais insisted a deal would not deter them — but instead spark a rush to get across.
Gabriel, 17, from South Sudan, has lived in a tent in Loon-Plage for months but dreams of working in England.
He told The Sun: “It’s not safe for us here. I will do anything to get out. Macron won’t stop us.
“He has done nothing and doesn’t care about us.”
His pal, Jarang, 19, said: “If Macron makes a deal with England, it will only make us more desperate to arrive before it is put in place.”
President Macron and the PM meet today.
The tapestry announcement has been eclipsed by crunch talks on the Channel migrant crisis, pictured Macron and PM, who will meet todayAFP
AFPMacron speaking in Westminster[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
