I fail to see how France is 'handing ammunition' to the BNP apart from the remark reported in the Telegraph by the Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart that "Requesting asylum is easier with them (the British) than in France," - presumably based on the size of the backlog and the subsequent time it takes for an application to be processed. This is sometimes another factor in an asylum seeker's choice of country.

The reasons for wishing to go to a particular country are numerous - but mostly are related to language and cultural links

Although the European Union has been trying to harmonise its asylum procedures, there are still differences in the kind of reception an asylum seeker can expect.

On this BBC site are the details of what asylum seekers can expect when they arrive at the main host countries.

Despair of 'The Jungle'

"Among the migrants were young men, some clearly under the age of 16; child-travellers vulnerable to bullying and sexual abuse. Some of their families had saved money to send these teenagers across time-zones seemingly unaware of the risks

They were curious to know about Britain. They were surprised to find I had sometimes visited their home towns like Kandahar or Ghazni. Many were full of hope but suddenly they would break off a conversation. They had seen someone, usually a gang leader or trafficker who feared the presence of reporters

I often asked them why they wanted to come to Britain. Many regarded the UK as Eldorado. Indeed some relief agencies had tried disabusing them of the British dream. It made no difference. For a key reason for heading to England was that there were established communities already there: Afghans, Somalis, Kurds etc. And that is where they would find work, in the black economy, amongst people who spoke their language and knew their traditions.

Many needed the money to pay off the traffickers who had helped them make the journey. If they failed to find the funds their families back home could be threatened."

Gavin Hewitt, Special Correspondent for BBC News writing today