Leading member of activist group accused of starting fires in Calais Jungle is a British academic being funded by taxpayers
James Ellison was being funded to study "police and fascist" violence in the sprawling camp
A TOP member in an activist group that allegedly started fires in the Calais Jungle is an academic at a British university and being funded by taxpayers.
James Ellison was being funded to study "police and fascist" violence in the sprawling camp.
Ellison is part of the No Borders organisation who are being investigated by French police over claims they set fire to shacks in the Jungle.
The group are accused of lighting gas canisters to spark the blazes.
Ellison, 29, had been writing on the No Borders Facebook page calling to "let everyone in" whilst also writing about the "positive aspects of violence".
He has a fully funded scholarship at Loughborough University where he is studying for a doctorate on the "visual representations of border violence in Calais".
Up until two days ago Loughborough had the following statement about Ellison on its website: "Through involvement with freedom of movement struggles in Calais (Ellison) has witnessed first hand the ensuing border crisis and human emergency as it has increased over the last 4 years.
related stories
"All of this experience has fed into his research and James has become directly involved with documenting police and fascist violence in Calais.
"He has also helped establish social media groups that have become instrumental in coordinating material support and volunteers in Calais."
The lines were allegedly deleted after the Mail on Sunday contacted them for a comment.
Ellison, who grew up in the Devon village of Cheriton Fitzpaine, wrote on Facebook earlier this month: "‘I’d like to say, don’t just let the children in, let everyone in.
"It doesn’t matter how f*****g old they are!"
In a discussion about the mayor of Calais’ fears that Left-wing anarchists would cause trouble in the camp, Ellison said: "I can see the positive aspects of violence and I see no need to be violent when the people you are struggling with don’t lead the fight. Still, not all No Borders [members] are violent."
Calais refugees accused No Borders activists of starting fires in the Calais Jungle in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Ellison said in a statement from his lawyer: "I am not currently in Calais nor have I been there for nine months.
"I find the scenes of the camp on fire and its destruction distressing. My role in No Borders is as administrator for a Facebook Group.
"I am not responsible for organising any of the protests that have occurred."
He added: "I do not believe that all “No Border” activists are violent nor do I believe that they were responsible for the fire and destruction of the camp."