Former minister Tim Loughton, MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, and a member of the home affairs committee, said the French had been able to “turn a blind eye” to the numbers crossing because there had been so few casualties until now.

“This might get them to wake up to the fact that, by allowing these people to go on a highly dangerous journey particularly at this time of year with unsafe weather, there are consequences,” he said.

“There are some serious questions that they have to address as to why they have allowed this dangerous trade to go on under their noses without taking practical measures. The result is that we have our first major fatalities. It is a miracle that this hasn’t happened before.”

Craig Mackinlay, MP for South Thanet, said the pictures on Wednesday of police watching as a group of people smugglers put an extra-large dinghy to sea raised questions over whether the French were turning a blind eye.

“My call is for France to properly prevent beach launchings and if they’re incapable of doing so, then ask for UK assistance. My fear is this will be the first of many tragedies across the winter period. This dangerous enterprise must be stopped.”