However, his views are not shared by many pro-asylum campaigners, who believe the Sangatte refugees are deserving of a place in the UK.

Sir Andrew Green, Migration Watch

There is absolutely no legal requirement on Britain to take any of these asylum-seekers. These people are already in a safe country.

Secondly, there is no moral obligation. We already take twice as many asylum-seekers as France does, and England as a country is four times as crowded as France.

I don't think it makes any difference at all, I think it's completely irrelevant

So the case for taking them is extremely weak.

I don't think [Sangatte being closed] makes any difference at all, I think it's completely irrelevant.

At the moment, roughly speaking, a quarter of a million people are coming to Britain every year.

So whether a thousand or two people are in a warehouse in Sangatte, really is irrelevant.

What we lack is a serious immigration policy, and serious steps to get a grip of it.

We need a serious removals policy, we need to reverse the decision on work permits, and we need to introduce entitlement cards.

We are pleased the government has reached a rational conclusion in dealing with the people who have been sheltering in Sangatte.

Iraqis make up the vast majority of those in Sangatte who will be allowed to come to Britain.

It is absolutely essential that people fleeing persecution have access to safety

We are concerned that David Blunkett is blurring the definitions of economic migrants and refugees - let us be plain, these people have very clear protection needs, and are refugees.

No-one can be in any doubt that Iraqis have every reason to flee that country, as Jack Straw himself gave evidence of in his dossier of human rights violations in Iraq.

It is absolutely essential that people fleeing persecution have access to safety.

The only long-term solution for dealing with refugees in Europe is proper harmonisation of asylum policy, and fair and equitable sharing of responsibility, which takes into account family and community ties.

Britain's proposals to extend immigration controls beyond our own borders is a worrying precedent and flies in the face of Britain's international obligations to play its role in providing sanctuary to refugees.