Crossing the channel in boats

[MarshaBradyo]

Listening to radio re terrible situation on the water but also in camps in France

It all sounds very hard

What would you like to see happen?

If things go as they normally do in other scenarios , there will be huge discussions, something must be done, nothing will be done, and the tragedy in the channel will fade away unless there are other large scale deaths.

Thing is who do people think is responsible for the state of some of the countries people are fleeing from? Take for example Iraq, I wonder what went on there that the UK might have had a hand in... Reap=Sow.

The consequences of Brexit MarshaBraydo

I do hope both France and the UK can get their acts together and come up with serious proposals for ending these deathly crossings which are sustainable in the long term.

@VladmirsPoutine

Thing is who do people think is responsible for the state of some of the countries people are fleeing from? Take for example Iraq, I wonder what went on there that the UK might have had a hand in... Reap=Sow.

The idea that maybe those who did the breaking of countries/societies should shoulder responsibility for care of the resultant refugees won’t go down well around here, especially in the context of Iraq /Gulf War II

The UK needs to face up to its own responsibilities, obsessing over not being invited to one meeting is pointless and stirring up anti French feeling will backfire.

Johnson’s government have been closing every safe route down and refusing family reunification to people coming from countries like Afghanistan and Yemen, forcing desperate people to try the only route left - the sea crossing. The UN say Patel’s proposed Border Bill is not in line with international human rights law.

The UK has international obligations to respect the right to refuge. And there is no obligation to seek asylum in the first safe country - that is an agreement between EU countries which no longer applies to the UK. France could tear up the Touquet treaty and simply stop trying to halt refugees trying to get to England- actually a few French right wingers think that’s a great idea.

twitter.com/natalieben/status/1464262672699043850?s=21 Good speech from the House of Lords on this issue

obsessing over not being invited to one meeting

To be correct - it was a disinvite

And yes meetings on the issue are important don’t you think? How else do you move forward?

Especially with something as time critical as people dying in the sea

Why wouldn’t you want people to care about speaking on the issue

France could tear up the Touquet treaty and simply stop trying to halt refugees trying to get to England- actually a few French right wingers think that’s a great idea.

Yep, there’s very much a case of be careful what you wish for when it comes to events in France next spring.

The ABM brigade have quite possibly not yet been exposed to an accurate translation of wishes of some far right Presidential hopefuls.

Yes a disinvite to one meeting based on rude, disrespectful behavior from Johnson. That particular meeting would likely not have been productive due to the resentment and lack of trust. There will be more meetings, there is no suggestion that discussions will stop.

@650above

Yes a disinvite to one meeting based on rude, disrespectful behavior from Johnson. That particular meeting would likely not have been productive due to the resentment and lack of trust. There will be more meetings, there is no suggestion that discussions will stop.

When is the next meeting which the U.K. will attend?

@Appledrop - and how many migrants do you think France has taken this year? Far far more than we take. And why is it France's problem? They don't come from France, the route has been long before this. This needs a proper European / global strategy. And Brexit has made that a whole lot more difficult.

@Appledrop - net migration is down this year. We have declining fertility and an ageing population as well as a recruitment crisis. Some strategy would solve problems for us.

Showing someone they’ve done something wrong - as people seem to agree with - being prioritised over a time critical issue with lives lost does bug me

I’m surprised others are ok with it but I suppose it’s part of the climate

@650above

twitter.com/natalieben/status/1464262672699043850?s=21 Good speech from the House of Lords on this issue

Thank you for the link

"Unless we provide a safe route, we are complicit with the people smugglers." Over 70% of that arrive by boat are granted asylum - they are asylum seekers.
Lord Kerr sets out the facts - facts that are not being heard.

Why would I know that that Marsha? It’s not a particularly big assumption to make. Do you really think there will be no more discussions on this ? Between neighbours with an existing treaty on this issue.

And what do you think the UK could do? What about asking your govt to open up safe routes, particularly for family reunification from countries like Afghanistan?

Priti Patel was uninvited, there are still UK officials present at the meeting

650 You seemed quite sure meetings would happen soon after the cancelled one

I’m not convinced that’s the case. Feels like a pretty strong message but maybe they’ll decide it’s a one off ‘punishment’ and we can come to next one. Seems odd way to act, but maybe.

I would like better ways for people to apply and be accepted and to look at the issue around work here

There will of course be continued discussions, even if it’s at middling/high civil service or police level…

Last time I checked this AM the phone lines between the UK and France were still connected so if Major Cousteau of the Gendarmerie National needs to talk to somebody in Border Force about what is going on today it will still be possible.

@notimagain

There will of course be continued discussions, even if it’s at middling/high civil service or police level…

Last time I checked this AM the phone lines between the UK and France were still connected so if Major Cousteau of the Gendarmerie National needs to talk to somebody in Border Force about what is going on today it will still be possible.

Well sure if people are happy with that level

I’d like more at top level

At what level do you think the real heavy work gets done?

And how does that help resolve the big issue?

If a key policy change is needed

Yes people in the actual sea are doing incredible work but they’d still like PMs to get together to find another solution rather than scour the sea responding to radio calls at 4am

Article by Lord Alf Dubs
bylinetimes.com/2021/11/26/history-will-judge-this-shabby-government-and-its-weaponisation-of-refugee-lives-says-lord-alf-dubs/

Well Johnson and Macron did have a conversation on this issue during the week. But apparently the letter Johnson tweeted out did not reflect the conversation they actually had.

But Marsha forget about Macron and this meeting, what do you think the UK can do? Do you agree with reducing family reunification to a trickle? Do you think Patel is right to want to criminalize anyone who takes the sea route? Or is it all the fault of the French\Macron and there is nothing the UK can do unilaterally?

Sorry I missed your “better ways to apply “ can I ask what you mean by that? at the moment it seems if they apply before arriving in the UK they get refused.