The immigrant barge - what’s actually wrong with using it?

[NC523]

Educate me!

I looked at pics from the inside, it all looks very much like standard student accommodation to me, including common rooms/relaxation areas/health support on board. Residents can go on & off the boat, it’s passed fire etc safety and been used to house people in lots of other situations. I don’t understand why people think it’s not ok. Can anyone explain please?

Nor I said it, nor it can be misconstrued that I did.

You can be arrested for protesting in the UK and jailed for up to 10 years and 12 months for just obstructing a residential road without prior permission.

Should we give ER protestors asylum?

No of course not, democratic countries around the world arrest and charge protestors, we shouldn't be offering asylum to these people

But we should to Afghans, Syrians, Russians etc etc.

I assume the poster was talking about the people who’s claims had been processed.

How would she know whether they had or not?

No of course not, democratic countries around the world arrest and charge protestors, we shouldn't be offering asylum to these people.

Alexandra do you believe China to be a democratic country?

@jgw1 not sure why there is confusion? Economic migrants are good when they have followed the correct visa process, have been background checked, have provided proof they can support themselves and are plugging gaps that are needed on the UK economy. Illegal economic migrants coming here to work for Uber eats on the black market - not so good.

I don’t get the faux confusion either.
People applying for particular work visa from abroad and going through all the necessary background checks is hardly the same as people moving to a country first and then getting their background/ qualifications checked, in hope they bring the required skills for the local labour market.
Genuine asylum seekers are a different issue entirely.

It’s not faux confusion. I’m confused too. Why is this happening when the NHS is desperate?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/09/trained-medics-who-could-ease-nhs-crisis-stuck-in-asylum-limbo

Because the Tories abandoned any attempt to manage or control the whole immigration system.

They have stopped processing claims, stopped removals, stopped granting asylum, stopped tackling people smuggling and have also stopped granting visas.

Zero work visas?

When did this happen?

Net migration has been fairly high, can you link to site showing fall to zero

It depends what you men by 'economic migrants'.

If people come here legally, speaking good English, with skills we need and are prepared to work, no.

But if people come here illegally, get processed and then abscond to work in the 'black economy', I for one don't want them.

Yes obviously visas still happen but non student visas are slower and more expensive than ever.

This is a big deterrent to applicants for essential roles, especially if not permanent contracts.

@CloudyMcCloud stopped removals

It's not the government that's stopping removals, it's the never-ending meritless appeals by dodgy lawyers, it's their own countries not wanting them back, it's being unable to even find out who these people are as they have no papers.

Numbers are high though I thought people were just complaining net migration was too high

Yes, it's a shame the Tories have cut back - deliberately - on tackling people smuggling and illegal work.

What's right with it!

Much of it is students who come here, spend a fortune, go home again.

People whinge on about headline numbers but personally I prefer a wealthy economy to a closed door economic deadzone.

It’s no where near closed door. Visa applications are there. You can look up numbers, it’s all online.

As for people smugglers and how easy that is to tackle how would you like to see it dealt with?

Not many posts on it this time but another drowning in the Med on the route from Tunisia to Italy. What should the approach be for Italy and here in your view?

This. They risk their life crossing the English channel when they could be processed in France if safety was their priority they would make their claim there. As a mother would I risk my kids life on a rubber dingy if I could claim asylum in France? Not a chance. The people who make this journey are mostly economic migrants. France is a safe country.

Then do you agree they need to be given more in terms of benefits and support to then help them integrate into society, with counseling, access to medical services etc?

@Blossomtoes Just because your views are endorsed by a third party doesn’t make them any less racist.

So 'Full Fact' is racist ?

I've heard it all now 🙄

@Blossomtoes Are you going to tell me the following document is 'racist' as well?

https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/religion/articles/religionbyhousinghealthemploymentandeducationenglandandwales/census2021

I think you are arguing for greater ease of access to the visa system for economic migrants so that there would be no need for them to come here illegally?

Does anyone know what one currently has to do to secure a work visa for the UK, how would one go about doing that in Afganistant or Syria?

How would I like people smuggling dealt with? Like any other crime - by investing resources to investigate, arrest, prosecute.
The Tories have chosen to permit this crime.

You seem not to have understand what is driving the numbers up, which is short term student visas.

I would like more doctors, dentists, nurses, care workers etc. amongst other things.