Cruise 'to glamorise' refugee story

Plans by superstar Tom Cruise to make a movie glorifying refugees' attempts to smuggle themselves into Britain through the Channel Tunnel sparked a bitter row today.

Cruise and his partner in CW Productions, Paula Wagner, is said to want to make the film about an American refugee who helps smuggle Middle Eastern immigrants onto the high-speed train from France to England.

The film, based on a recent New York Times Magazine article called The Light At The End Of The Chunnel, by journalist Peter Landesman, will focus on how the link between Calais and Dover is used by asylum seekers to get into Britain.

But Tory shadow home secretary Oliver Letwin said the proposed film demonstrated how serious the refugee question had become. "When these issues become the subject of drama, we know it is time to put a stop to it," he added. Andrew Richardson, leader of Dover council, said: "The last thing we want is a big Hollywood movie on this subject. This film idea could easily glamorise this very serious issue."

Author Mr Landesman said: "The Chunnel is deadly and thrilling because those trains are so lethal, but the subject matter also reflects post-9/11 political realities.

"It has been a known pit stop for al Qaeda because refugee status offers perfect cover. There are a lot of timely issues, but behind it is a redemptive story."