Tory Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp was giving an interview about small boat crossings, which have fallen 45% compared to last year, when several loud bangs were heard behind him
A top Tory has accused a French warship of firing 17 “live rounds” to intimidate him as he filmed in the Channel – only to be told it was an unrelated training exercise.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp claimed a naval officer fired what felt like “warning shots or attempted intimidation” during a TV interview. In a video shared by the Conservative frontbencher, loud bangs are heard in the background.
The former Home Office minister hit out at French authorities, who later said the crew was carrying out training using handguns. It happened as Mr Philp was speaking to the broadcaster about small boat crossings, which have fallen by more than 10,000 compared to the same period last year – a 45% drop.
Mr Philp said: “The French warship fired 17 live rounds behind us as it was at its closest point to us. There was no warning at all. It felt like these were warning shots and our skipper told me he had never seen anything like this in years sailing in the Channel.”
The Government has contacted French authorities for an explanation. In a statement, translated from French, the Prefecture maritime Manche mer du Nord, said the vessel – the Flamant – was carrying out a handgun firing exercise off Cape Gris-Nez.
“In order to maintain their high level of operational readiness in the current international context, French navy units conduct regular training exercises,” it said said. “Individual combat training is part of the normal activities of a vessel on operations.
“The regulatory signals required under international standards for this firing exercise were displayed, and the safety area was respected. This exercise was unrelated to the presence of a British vessel in the area, which was outside the range of the shots fired.
“The Flamant was not involved in a migrant boat surveillance operation.” Mr Philp later claimed this was “not credible”, stating: “There were no warnings in place about live firing training exercises. They fired the live rounds at the closest point of approach to us – and didn’t fire anything that we saw before or after.”
The Shadow Home Secretary went on to claim that France was “doing little” to stop dangerous crossings, but trying to intimidate those trying to expose it. Latest Home Office figures show 13,350 have reached the UK by small boat up to July 26. By comparison there were 24,081 by that point in 2025. It is also lower than the figure in 2024, 15,832 – when the Tories were in government until July 5.
There were also more than 15,000 by the same point in both 2022 and 2023. BBC journalist Michael Keohan said it was a “strange moment”, with the French vessel being around 300 metres away and firing in “close proximity”.
The incident on the Channel came as Andy Burnham insisted the Government’s plan to tackle small boat crossings in the Channel was working. Nearly 900 migrants have crossed to the UK from France since he took over No10 last Monday, including one “mega dinghy” carrying 165 people on Thursday.
Mr Burnham told reporters on a visit to Derby: “The Home Secretary (Shabana Mahmood) has brought forward a very rigorous plan in relation to this, and let’s remember, the numbers can fluctuate but overall boat crossings are down, down quite significantly year on year. So that does suggest that the plan is working.”
Asked if he recognised that the small boats may represent a “threat to national security”, Mr Burnham said he wanted “all relevant and necessary checks” to be completed. He said: “There have to be rigorous checks so that people are not put through into a situation where they are out without the relevant safeguards, and absolutely, I can give you a commitment that that is the clear instruction that I am giving. That all relevant and necessary checks must be done.
“It’s about getting a grip on the entire situation. I raised this repeatedly through the Makerfield by-election. The public wants to see control being exerted, and while we’ve made progress, there is more to do, and I recognise that completely.
“But the trend is down, and the number of people being removed is up, so the figures are pointing in a better direction. But there is much more to do.”
In April the UK reached a deal with France that will see hundreds more officers patrol beaches to prevent crossings. And for the first time, payment will be linked to results, the government said.