A migrant being interviewed in Calais, France shocked a GB News presenter when he said he expects wealthy British people to give him whatever he needs once he gets to the UK.
Patrick Christys, reporting live near the migrant camps where many are preparing to cross the English Channel in small boats, spoke to several migrants about their hopes for life in Britain.
One migrant told Patrick that he believed people in England could help him with anything he needed. When asked why the British should help him, the man said that he knows many people in Britain need houses and money, and maybe they could also give him a house or something else he needs.
He described British people as “perfect” and said that he thinks all of them are rich. Patrick responded by saying, “Let me tell you, we are not all rich people.”
This exchange happened during a time when migration to the UK is once again a major political issue. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer recently announced new plans to reduce migration, which he said has caused serious problems for British society. But in the party’s official report, there was no mention of how to deal with illegal immigration.
So far this year, more than 12,000 people have already made the dangerous journey across the Channel, a record since officials started tracking these crossings in 2018. In 2024 alone, over 36,000 migrants were detected coming to the UK in small boats—an increase of 25% compared to 2023.
Another man from Sudan shared that he wanted to come to Britain because he finds life in France difficult. He struggles with the language there and hopes to find a better life in an English-speaking country. When Patrick asked if he was looking for a job or a house, the man said that in England he could understand the language and live with other people more easily than in France. He also mentioned that it usually costs around £1,500 to pay for the boat trip across the Channel and that he already knows many people living in the UK.
When one more migrant was asked why he wouldn’t just stay in France, he raised his hands and simply said, “No problem in England,” suggesting he believes the UK offers a better chance at a good life.
The interviews highlight the strong belief among many migrants that Britain will offer them more support and opportunities than other countries, even though life in the UK may not be as easy or as wealthy as they imagine.
