Paddy Power sends "immigrant lorry" to Calais

Paddy Power has courted controversy this week by sending a lorry to Calais emblazoned with the slogan “Immigrants, jump in the back! (But only if you’re good at sport)”.

The Irish bookmakers’ stunt is referring to the situation in Calais that saw French ferry workers go on strike and disrupting the cross-Channel travel for three days and causing huge build-up of traffic as people seek alternative ways of getting to the UK

Such standstills allow thousands of immigrants who have camped by Calais to hide in lorries and enter the UK illegally.

Accompanying the words on Paddy Power’s lorry are images of the most famous UK sportsmen who are in some way “imported”.  Scot Andy Murray, Somalian-born Mo Farah, Jamaican-born England winger Raheem Sterling, rugby player Manu Tuilagi, who was born in Samoa, and and England cricketer Eoin Morgan, who is from Ireland.

Many people have been surprised by the inclusion of Andy Murray in the campaign.

@paddypower @derekrobertson it’s funny but Murray isn’t an immigrant

— Huntedbyafreak (@HBAF1976) July 2, 2015

The campaign continues the bookmakers’ trend of creating campaigns that cause controversy and galvanise people to react on social media. The promotional stunt has been seen by many as making light of the migration crisis and the dangers involved in securing passage to the British Isles.

@1cornishblue The last few I have seen have been the same and I’ve found them offensive like I do this one. It’s not funny at all.

— Ickle Mrs G (@IckleMrsG) July 2, 2015

However, Paddy Power does appear to be fazed by some of the vitriolic reaction towards the campaign.

“The nation’s sporting future would be as grim as Andy Murray’s demeanour if we were to rely on ourselves to produce top-class athletes, unless puking in Maguluf becomes a sport,” said Ken Robertson, head of Paddy Power’s brand engagement team.