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AIBU?

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Stopping the boats is easy...

745 replies

titbumwillypoo · 22/08/2026 15:47

All we have to do is abandon the ECHR, the Refugee Convention, the UN, the G7, NATO and the WTO. Then we can break maritime law and start sinking the boats. Obviously we'd have to proscribe the RNLI and change the job description of the coast guard to encourage people who want to sink boats to sign up. The fishermen will be fine.
Once we start with this deterrent we can start kicking out other undesirables. I'd start with the students. Coming over here using our universities as a gateway to benefits street. So we ban them, no more student visas. We might see a few universities close but no great loss, you learn more in the school of life.
After that take away access to ALL benefits for anyone not born here. Don't care if you've always worked and paid your taxes you're not ENGERLISH so less Dr Khalid more Dr Callum.
Obviously once we start making Britain Great again there may be a couple of teensy issues. Food might cost a lot more because the lefty EU might not want to trade with a nation that wants to isolate itself and kill innocent people. It'll be fine because there will be 100% employment because instead of benefits you'll have to do your 60 hours on the food farm to earn your pound credits.
Family will be legally obliged to look after any living relative as there won't be anyone left to do it because we deported them all. And obviously the NHS was full of loony lefties who went round caring for people instead of focusing on what really mattered, which is profit.
They're just a couple of the benefits of stopping the boats, because who cares about the bigger picture or unintended consequences eh?
Giving up our place on the world stage is a small price to pay for stopping a handful of people coming from countries we benefited from or bombed isn't it?

OP posts:
GunnelVallquist · 30/08/2026 12:09

LuckyHazelFox · 30/08/2026 12:08

Yes and we aren't afraid of saying so.

Not anymore, no.

GunnelVallquist · 30/08/2026 12:10

You are essentially asking people to be ok with being put at risk and PAYING for the privilege.

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 12:26

GunnelVallquist · 30/08/2026 12:10

You are essentially asking people to be ok with being put at risk and PAYING for the privilege.

Who is? No posts on this thread have a good word for the boats

GunnelVallquist · 30/08/2026 13:08

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 12:26

Who is? No posts on this thread have a good word for the boats

In general I meant.

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 13:13

GunnelVallquist · 30/08/2026 13:08

In general I meant.

No one is asking anyone to be okay with documented problems. No one on this thread has offered realistic solutions either.

Suppose you get this data. Even if, when properly analysed by statisticians it tells a clear story (which is very much an open question), what do you think a responsible government can do with it?

I have asked several times on this thread for constructive solutions to the problem of the boats. None have been offered. How would data change that?

EasternStandard · 30/08/2026 13:16

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 13:13

No one is asking anyone to be okay with documented problems. No one on this thread has offered realistic solutions either.

Suppose you get this data. Even if, when properly analysed by statisticians it tells a clear story (which is very much an open question), what do you think a responsible government can do with it?

I have asked several times on this thread for constructive solutions to the problem of the boats. None have been offered. How would data change that?

I think you blew the chance to get answers. But you also seem to be certain there are none. So it’s a bit pointless.

Allseeingallknowing · 30/08/2026 13:19

MaturingCheeseball · 29/08/2026 07:45

Naturally - I know lots of “valuable” immigrants - but they came to the UK quite legitimately and certainly didn’t fight their way onto a boat.

The men coming on boats etc are frequently illiterate, low-skilled and need interpreters. We have enough young men with poor prospects without adding hundreds of thousands more.

Well said!

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 13:23

EasternStandard · 30/08/2026 13:16

I think you blew the chance to get answers. But you also seem to be certain there are none. So it’s a bit pointless.

I think the government is moving in the right direction. Boat numbers are down, backlogs are down, numbers in hotels are down ( and numbers in barracks are minimal, but they always have been), etc. Not every metric is moving in tandem but the trend is clear.

The failure to suggest solutions on this thread and the similar ones long precedes my request for them.

EasternStandard · 30/08/2026 13:25

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 13:23

I think the government is moving in the right direction. Boat numbers are down, backlogs are down, numbers in hotels are down ( and numbers in barracks are minimal, but they always have been), etc. Not every metric is moving in tandem but the trend is clear.

The failure to suggest solutions on this thread and the similar ones long precedes my request for them.

Yes ik you do. We’ll see if the public thinks the chaos on boats and crimes are worth it.

Allseeingallknowing · 30/08/2026 13:33

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 13:23

I think the government is moving in the right direction. Boat numbers are down, backlogs are down, numbers in hotels are down ( and numbers in barracks are minimal, but they always have been), etc. Not every metric is moving in tandem but the trend is clear.

The failure to suggest solutions on this thread and the similar ones long precedes my request for them.

Much is made of the fact that the numberof boat people is only a small percentage, but they all need accommodation, food, healthcare, education etc, and if granted asylum will bring all their relatives over. As for coming here because they speak English- what a joke, if the millions spent on translators and interpreters is anything to go by.

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 13:43

EasternStandard · 30/08/2026 13:25

Yes ik you do. We’ll see if the public thinks the chaos on boats and crimes are worth it.

If the public want to exercise their democratic freedoms that is one thing. But democracy is fragile and if they want to deliver us into the hands of a political party provably shilling for Russia (the former leader of Reform - Wales is serving a prison sentence for accepting Russian bribes, and the sentencing judge all but called him a traitor. He was a close deputy of Farage) that is quite another.

I may lean more centrist than most modern Tories but I am confident in the patriotism of Kemi Badenoch and Rishi Sunak. Sadly I don’t think even their platforms would answer some of the irrational emotion on this thread.

EasternStandard · 30/08/2026 13:47

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 13:43

If the public want to exercise their democratic freedoms that is one thing. But democracy is fragile and if they want to deliver us into the hands of a political party provably shilling for Russia (the former leader of Reform - Wales is serving a prison sentence for accepting Russian bribes, and the sentencing judge all but called him a traitor. He was a close deputy of Farage) that is quite another.

I may lean more centrist than most modern Tories but I am confident in the patriotism of Kemi Badenoch and Rishi Sunak. Sadly I don’t think even their platforms would answer some of the irrational emotion on this thread.

I am too in your line re KB and RS. I’d be happy with either.

I hope the former does it and wins and the latter has a top role, but ik it’s a tough climb for various reasons.

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 13:55

Allseeingallknowing · 30/08/2026 13:33

Much is made of the fact that the numberof boat people is only a small percentage, but they all need accommodation, food, healthcare, education etc, and if granted asylum will bring all their relatives over. As for coming here because they speak English- what a joke, if the millions spent on translators and interpreters is anything to go by.

Costs of translation for asylum seekers are not separated out. In fact, the NHS does not separate out costs of any type of care for asylum seekers, and this is an acknowledged gap in all estimates of what asylum seekers cost the UK.

Returning to translation and interpretation, local authorities track overall costs. But costs for asylum seekers are not collated.

BasildonBonds · 30/08/2026 13:58

One of the Tory party's former top donors has accused its MPs of being too left wing and said that the party needs to "cleansed" in order for Badenoch to implement her policies.

Concerning use of language if you ask me.

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 14:00

Allseeingallknowing · 30/08/2026 13:33

Much is made of the fact that the numberof boat people is only a small percentage, but they all need accommodation, food, healthcare, education etc, and if granted asylum will bring all their relatives over. As for coming here because they speak English- what a joke, if the millions spent on translators and interpreters is anything to go by.

This post also sats that those granted asylum will bring their families. That has been incorrect since Sept 2025 - Labour changed the law.

Families of those who claimed asylum since then are subject to the same strict requirements as the families of all other immigrants.

EasternStandard · 30/08/2026 14:02

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 14:00

This post also sats that those granted asylum will bring their families. That has been incorrect since Sept 2025 - Labour changed the law.

Families of those who claimed asylum since then are subject to the same strict requirements as the families of all other immigrants.

Are you ok with this?

It’ll make it much harder for women and children.

Allseeingallknowing · 30/08/2026 14:07

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 14:00

This post also sats that those granted asylum will bring their families. That has been incorrect since Sept 2025 - Labour changed the law.

Families of those who claimed asylum since then are subject to the same strict requirements as the families of all other immigrants.

Glad to hear it! The fact that they already have family here must help their application, though.

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 14:17

EasternStandard · 30/08/2026 14:02

Are you ok with this?

It’ll make it much harder for women and children.

I am not okay with people moaning about something false to foment group think.

I would like to see data on how much numbers are being reduced. How many fewer married folk are coming? Most of the problem seems to be with single young men.

Unless it is documented that this is helping to reduce numbers it is pointless cruelty.

EasternStandard · 30/08/2026 14:20

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 14:17

I am not okay with people moaning about something false to foment group think.

I would like to see data on how much numbers are being reduced. How many fewer married folk are coming? Most of the problem seems to be with single young men.

Unless it is documented that this is helping to reduce numbers it is pointless cruelty.

I don’t get your first line.

But yes Labour’s response to all this is likely cruel and ineffective.

poetryandwine · 30/08/2026 14:22

Allseeingallknowing · 30/08/2026 14:07

Glad to hear it! The fact that they already have family here must help their application, though.

Of course having a spouse on a UK visa (except a student visa) is a valid reason for anyone to apply to join them here. But each member of the couple must satisfy certain stringent conditions.

Now those granted asylum and their spouses are in the same category as everyone else.

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