UK will not take in migrants fleeing northern Africa, insists May

Europe's Schengen agreement is under threat. The agreement allows 25 EU nations to travel across borders without having their passports checked. To deal with the Tunisian invasion, Italy handed out temporary permits to more than 25,000 Tunisians in the hope that they will depart their country for greener pastures. Many thought their end destination would be France - and maybe some are hoping to stop there and admire the Eiffel tower, but, their ultimate goal is the UK - which is perceived as having a soft touch government with a generous welfare system. Now the UK government is in damage control and hurriedly assuring their citizens that they won't be sharing the burden. My oh my, just what is Europe going to do about these economic refugees, because, let's face it - that's what they are. These people fought for 'freedom' in their own country, yet barely was their revolution cold and most of the MALES were on boats shouting viva Italia. Notice that there are no women amongst these so called 'refugees'? Wonder why that is? Are only the men being persecuted in Tunisia, or could it be that they're just waiting to settle in their new tax-payer funded council flat (with perks) and then write home to their loved ones and 10 kids to hop on the nearest plane to join them in the land of milk and honey? Europe can expect more of the same, as Gidaffi - for all his faults - kept the masses of Black Africans from Europe's shores. Now it's open refugee season for all and this problem is going to grow worse. Both France and Italy are backing the war kinetic military action in Libya in the hope of benefiting from cheap oil, but, they haven't yet realised the huge can of immigrant worms they've opened. These North African countries are dumps so Europe and her civilised way of life is a huge draw card. Then there's the coming-soon-to-a-cinema-near-you Egyptian crisis as many of the Coptic Christians will be fleeing before they're beheaded by the religion of peace. Roll on the good times...

The Home Secretary has told her EU counterparts that Britain is not prepared to join any “burden sharing” as tens of thousands of people cross in to Europe, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

Italy, where the refugees are arriving on a daily basis, has urged its EU partners to help ease the pressure by accepting some of the migrants.

But at a meeting of her justice and home affairs counterparts last week Mrs May said Britain will only offer support to Italy to help deal with the issue there.

She will repeat her firm stance when the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council meets again next month.

It came as British MEPs warned migrants could head for Britain because it is seen as a soft option and called for action to stop camps building up at Calais.

A borderless scheme on mainland Europe is already under threat amid growing tensions over the plight of the fleeing refugees and migrants.

More than 25,000 Tunisians have arrived in Italy since unrest there and thousands of Libyans are expected to try to head for Europe. More than 14,000 crossed in to Tunisia in the last two weeks alone.

More migrants from sub-Sahara Africa are also likely to cross because Col Muammar Gaddafi is no longer stopping them in Libya.

A row developed between France and Italy earlier this week when the former stopped a train carrying Tunisians migrants at the border.

Under the so-called Schengen agreement, citizens in 25 EU nations are allowed to travel across borders without having their passports checks.

The UK and Ireland are not part of the agreement and control their own borders.

However, Italy has caused anger among its neighbours by handing temporary permits to more than 25,000 Tunisians after other EU countries declined to help accommodate them.

It effectively gives them unobstructed travel around the union.

Gerard Batten, the Ukip MEP for London, said: "People are going to gravitate to Britain.

“Britain is top of the list because we have one of the most generous welfare benefits systems and we are famous for being a soft touch.

"I don't have any confidence in the authorities doing anything to stop them coming in.

“"There is a human crisis, but the approach of giving people residence permits will make things permanent, rather than encourage people to return home when peace in Libya and the whole of north Africa finally returns.

“The problem here for us is the European borderless state."

Richard Ashworth, the Conservative MEP for South East England, added: "The Calais authorities have recently taken action to remove the immigrants in the town intending to enter the UK.

“Both the French and British authorities need to remain vigilant to ensure this bottleneck does not occur again if large numbers of people from North Africa enter France.

“The sad days of squalid camps in the woods and British hauliers running the Calais gauntlet must not be allowed to happen again."

The growing tensions in Europe has put the Schengen agreement under threat.

Along with France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Germany are understood to be considering reintroducing some border checks.

A Home Office spokesman said: "A common asylum system or new laws will not resolve the unprecedented influx of migrants at Europe's Mediterranean border.

"Britain has offered Italy practical assistance to help maintain their border controls and asylum processes. Those seeking international protection are expected to claim asylum in the first safe country they enter. Those who have no genuine claim to protection should be returned to their home countries quickly.

"We retain the right to not opt into any agreement which will weaken Britain's borders."

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