Liz Truss needn’t apologise to Emmanuel Macron for saying jury out on ‘good friend or foe’

Tradition Secretary Michelle Donelan additionally recommended one of many causes to justify such a remark could possibly be the extent of co-operation from France in stopping migrants crossing the Channel to UK. Ms Truss gave the impression to be looking for to strike a extra conciliatory tone forward of a gathering at this time with Mr Macron at a United Nations summit in New York.

The Prime Minister confused the necessity for a “constructive relationship” with France to fight Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and cut back migrant crossings of the Channel in small boats.

However requested on Instances Radio whether or not the Prime Minister ought to apologise to the French president, who was on the Queen’s state funeral, for her “jury’s out” comment in the course of the Tory management contest, Ms Donelan mentioned on Tuesday: “Completely not.”

Pressed on why Mr Macron could possibly be extra “foe” than “good friend”, she added: “There are a number of various issues we might look again on in relation to issues like immigration and what has been taking place there on our borders.”

However Lib Dem Cupboard Workplace spokesperson Christine Jardine mentioned: “Liz Truss should cease insulting our closest allies, particularly ones which stand shoulder to shoulder with Britain in opposition to Putin’s aggression.”

Ms Truss didn’t repeat her “jury’s out” remark when chatting with journalists travelling along with her to the UN summit, however confused that she desires a “constructive relationship with France” on points like Ukraine and vitality, in addition to immigration.

Greater than 25,000 migrants have crossed the English Channel from France this yr, based on the most recent House Workplace statistics.

The numbers are persevering with to rise regardless of the Authorities’s plan to ship asylum seekers to Rwanda, which it claimed would deter folks from making the crossing.