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Shadow home secretary Chris Philp has accused the French navy of firing live ammunition near his boat during a filming session. While Philp claims the act was intimidating, a naval expert suggests the firing was likely routine training and not directed at the politician.
Why it matters
The incident highlights ongoing diplomatic tensions between the UK and France regarding Channel migration policies and border security.
Chris Philp , the shadow home secretary, has accused the French navy of firing live ammunition to stop him investigating what they are doing about small boats.
He also said he would be complaining about the incident to the French ambassador.
He issued a statement as a follow-up to a claim he first made on social media. (See 12.12pm .) He was on a boat filming an interview with a BBC journalist about three miles from the French coast when they heard 17 gunshots being fired from a French naval ship about 300m away. A French officer on the boat could be seen pointing a pistol towards the sea, but not in the direction of Philp’s boat.
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