Attempts to stop migrant boats crossing the channel by deploying military vessels and aircraft has been condemned as "heavy handed" and utterly immoral by the SNP's defence spokesman.
Stewart McDonald MP said the deployment of RAF surveillance aircraft to spot dingies in the English channel was “an appalling and immoral pursuit”.
More than 4000 migrants have reached Britain this year by crossing the dangerous Dover Strait in small boats.
McDonald spoke out as Tory Defence Secretary Ben Wallace ordered the RAF Atlas aircraft to support Border Force operations in the Channel.
Home Secretary Priti Patel is also examining plans that could see Royal Navy frigates and destroyers sent into the Channel to deter or even intercept migrant boats.
The Home Office has appointed a former Royal Marine to head up an operation to tackle the problem and formally requested help from the Royal Navy for help, a move branded a “completely potty” idea by a Ministry of Defence source.
McDonald said: “Surveillance flights are supposed to detect and monitor hostile threats, not dinghies filled with desperate human beings who have committed no crime and pose no threat. This appalling display of heavy-handedness is a criminal waste of money and an utterly immoral pursuit.”
Boris Johnson has branded migrants’ Channel crossings a “very bad and stupid and dangerous and criminal thing to do” as he hinted at changing laws to tackle the crisis.
Speaking on Monday Johnson said: “There’s no doubt that it would be helpful if we could work with our French friends to stop them (migrants) getting over the Channel.”
“But then there’s a second thing we’ve got to do and that is to look at the legal framework that we have that means that when people do get here, it is very difficult to then send them away again even though blatantly they’ve come here illegally.”
A leading French politician also rubbished claims the Royal Navy could push migrant boats away from UK waters.
Calais MP Pierre-Henri Dumont told the BBC: “What are they going to do if there is a small boat trying to enter the British waters?
“Is the British Navy going to shoot at the small boat to prevent these immigrants entering the British waters at 12 nautical miles?
“Is the Royal Navy going to enter the French waters before the immigrants try to cross and arrive into the British waters
“Basically, that won’t change anything, clearly.”
