Kemi Badenoch on Laura Kuenssberg this morning

[HermioneWeasley]

I like her, she’s clear and articulate and unapologetic.

she’s also downplaying her race (she was asked about it, didn’t bring it up) as opposed to Rachel Reeves going on again about being the first female chancellor.

Thanks @WestwardHo1 that's interesting.

Oh Laurie, methinks your imagination is working overtime and reading comprehension non existent.
Starmer goes on about “stopping the boats”. Do you think he’s all for dead babies in the channel too?

I think what Amnesty International said was that people die because the government aren't providing safe routes in to the country for asylum seekers.

Here's what they actually said, "The Government’s ‘smash the gangs’ slogan and its security-heavy approach is contributing to the death toll because the refusal to establish safe asylum routes means these flimsy vessels controlled by people smugglers are the only real option for desperate people fleeing persecution."

It's been shown that the number on each boat is rising and it makes it more likely that deaths will occur. It barely gets traction these days when deaths occur each week.

That is either due to the lift in demand, the lower supply of vessels or both

Starmer's policy is the reason for that

the refusal to establish safe asylum routes means these flimsy vessels controlled by people smugglers are the only real option for desperate people fleeing persecution.

They could claim asylum in France and not do the journey at all.

People have every right to their own opinion about a politician, regardless of sex and colour. One should never assume that any criticism is only because of those reasons.

Or are you saying that people should not be able to criticise her views, methods, policies and whatever else because she happens to be a black woman?

Absolutely not! But she doesn’t have to support critical race theory and maternity leave because she’s a black female. Or stand up against babies dying in the channel. She’s being held up to a different set of values because she’s a black woman.

What is Starmer doing about babies dying in the channel other than making it worse by ensuring boats are fuller and more flimsy?

Any UK facility set up in France will only be used by those who believe that their asylum application will succeed on its merits.

Most applications will be rejected, at least initially, because the UK government, acting on the wishes of the electorate, want to dissuade asylum seekers - the UK isn't unique in this, see also Australia / Japan / Denmark. The claimants know this and will therefore use an illegal route.

I don't have any answers. I did some admin work for an asylum team in the 90s when it was managed by local authorities and it was obvious then that the system was broken and many claims were spurious - for instance, a Brazilian man who claimed he was in danger in his home country because he was gay, despite the fact that Brazil is one of the world's most LGBT-tolerant societies. The sad truth was that he was HIV positive and couldn't obtain / afford appropriate medication at home and the NHS was providing those drugs for him (it wouldn't now, the rules have tightened).

That's a great example of why asylum claimants, even those obviously trying it on, shouldn't be condemned. We would all do the same in their shoes.

Did we watch the same show?

I thought she was dreadful. I don’t give her long. There is no way on earth she would ever win an election.

You misunderstood what I meant. Asylum seekers can claim asylum in France to stay in France. They have a choice about coming over on a small boat.

She is terrible. With extremely right wing views and little care or thought for people who have had fewer life chances than she had.
But then so is Jenrick so little to choose between them.

Can you expand? In what way did you think she was dreadful?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/aug/06/channel-smugglers-drop-prices-and-cram-more-people-on-to-boats

Sadly this has been going on much longer than Starmer's period in power.

This from 2022.

If you were fleeing from a dangerous country and you spoke English so the possibility you may be able to earn a living but didn't speak french and had no ties on France where would you want to be?
The UK take far fewer asylum seekers than other European countries . There is no obligation on asylum seekers to seek asylum in the first safe country they enter.

It is going up now, again.

I'm surprised people aren't aware of how smash the gangs is impacting the channel crossings

It feels people are immune to deaths reported each week and they are barely commented on

Most definitely not articulate, falling over her words, didn’t answer the questions well, had little of value to say, cold and pretty much backed up the thoroughly unpleasant person she clearly is which we know from her views on maternity rights, Autism, SEN provision and immigration.

It’s like Liz Truss round 2.

Would you ever vote conservative? If it were not Kemi as leader

I'm responding to the Amnesty International quote:

the refusal to establish safe asylum routes means these flimsy vessels controlled by people smugglers are the only real option for desperate people fleeing persecution.

The flimsy vessels aren't the only real option for someone fleeing persecution. They could stay in France, claim asylum and learn French. I believe the French welfare system is a lot better than ours, their healthcare certainly is. I would do that rather than risk drowning in the channel, especially if I had a child with me.

I wonder what country will offer us an income, free housing before their own people and free health care after we enter without a visa, should we require help? I suspect none.

Could you provide us with some links to the information you have so that we can be as clear as you are on the impacts of smash the gangs.

No, most people don't do things like that.

Not with the shower of shite we’ve had the past 14 years. I’d listen to Justine Greening, Ken Clarke Teresa May, John Major ( that kind of conservative you know the type who wants to do well by the country and not their position in the party) as possibilities. See what they had to say. People who have a smidgen of thought as regards those who aren’t Tory donors. She’s clearly vile and similar to Braverman, Truss , Sunak, Johnson, Patel, Reece Mog, Stride…..so not worth even listening to. But it’s not a clear cut thing and all depends on what else is available. Would never have voted labour with Corbyn. Did with Blair…

Here you go this was September 25th, there have been more deaths since then

Yvette Cooper - Speaking to i, she said smugglers were exposing women and children to particular danger as they crammed ever more desperate people onto bigger boats.

She said there was evidence the smugglers were increasing their prices as police seize boats and engines intended for the Channel.

“The gangs are now charging for children on boats. [And there are] awful examples of them charging more for life jackets and then providing life jackets that are flimsy and unsafe that would never save anyone’s life at sea.

The gangs’ greed can expose women and children to the most danger, she added.

“We’ve seen these awful cases where women and children are put into the centre of the boat. And so when the boats collapse, or when people are crushed in the overcrowding, that’s why we see women and children’s lives being lost.

Some charities say tougher enforcement only increases the risk to migrants and won’t stop the trade.

Stating that operations to disrupt the gangs are leading to more overcrowding on boats will sharpen criticism from some charities that government policies are leading to more deaths.

“They’re cramming more and more people into bigger boats.”

What's the answer do you reckon then @EasternStandard ?