Fury as Border Force chiefs blow £1,500 of public cash on Indian meal for French officials to discuss migrant crisis

BORDER Force chiefs tried to curry favour with the French over the migrant crisis.

They forked out nearly £1,500 of public cash on an Indian meal weeks before Paris demanded £94million more from the UK to police its beaches.

A group of 16 “high-level French officials” were treated to a £1,411.12 business lunch at the Cinnamon Club in London’s Westminster in May.

The innovative Indian eatery is famed for its decor in a book-lined former Victorian library with downstairs cocktail bar.

An eight course tasting menu will set customers back £90, and includes dishes like a slow braised lamb leg, chargrilled obsiblue king prawns with an Alleppey curry sauce and a Tandoori spiced Balmoral Estate venison.

A month earlier Border Force officials spent £930 on bedding from John Lewis for one of their Channel cutters.

They claimed nothing was available from usual stockists.

Dover MP Natalie Elphicke said: “Meetings between border chiefs should be held on the frontline in Dover or Calais not in swanky London restaurants.

“The Channel crossing crisis needs to be tackled seriously and at pace.

“The next Prime Minister needs to make tackling the small boats crisis a key priority.”

A Home Office spokesman said: “We are committed to delivering the best value for money for the taxpayer.

“We ensure all spending is carefully scrutinised.”