French warship ‘fires 17 live rounds’ near Tory MP in Channel

Craig Munro | Senior Politics Reporter Published July 28, 2026 1:29pm Updated July 28, 2026 3:02pm To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Tory MP Chris Philp has accused a French warship of firing live warning shots near him as he filmed a BBC interview about small boats. A video posted on X by the shadow home secretary shows him speaking to a journalist on a fishing boat in the English Channel with a ship close behind them. Both men turn to look when pops of gunfire are heard, though they seem unsure about what is happening. Philp later posted: ‘On the channel today monitoring illegal migrant crossings… as I was being interviewed by the BBC just now a French warship approached close and fired 17 live rounds behind us.