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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the British government reaction to Calais migrants is pathetic?

227 replies

ribbitTheFrog · 29/07/2015 08:15

It's like they're just putting their heads in the sand. Meanwhile people are dying, hauliers are being threatened, holiday makers having trips ruined.

I'd do the following:

Make clear any illegal entries will be turned back to France. Make clear there are not limitless jobs, housing etc in the UK. Make clear no benefits to new migrants (if this isn't the case then change the law).

Presumably the migrants think the UK has lots of money and opportunities, otherwise they wouldn't be risking their lives to leave France (a safe country).

OP posts:
specialsubject · 29/07/2015 12:41

of course that is how statistics work. But if the bottom billion could have what we have in this country (which after all is why they are trying to get here) that would be a very good start.

not everyone needs an i-brick, a pet, tons of clothes...but wouldn't it be great if everyone had access to a toilet?

Original poster
ribbitTheFrog · 29/07/2015 13:07

I agree that the UK (and Europe in general) can't just absorb all the citizens from dysfunctional regimes around the world. Those who think this is a good idea - presumably you don't mind paying a lot more tax, reduced nhs, huge school class sizes etc if we are to be so 'compassionate' and let every migrant in?

OP posts:
LurkingHusband · 29/07/2015 13:22

the only long-term solution is for everyone on the planet to have a decent place to live

The only long term solution is to stop increasing human population. Trebling in 60 years isn't a help to anyone.

GardenDragon · 29/07/2015 13:23

I think one of the reasons why so many people want to come to the UK is also due to language, many who try to get here will already have some knowledge of English, so to them it makes sense to come somewhere they will be able to improve on that basic knowledge. If you have basic English skills, I can see why claiming asylum somewhere like Hungary, for example, would not be easy. Hungarian is not an easy language to learn and there is nothing like the exposure to it that there is to English. Ditto several other languages in the EU.

The80sweregreat · 29/07/2015 13:26

More, you have given me food for thought. The news today said that DC will not critize the French for allowing this to drag on and on.
Why not? Probably for the reasons you state. Our leaders in the uk and europe do not live in the areas where these people will end up living. They are in their own little bubble and dont really seem to give a toss about the councils and the people that work in our schools, police etc that then have to deal with the fall out of this situation. As long as they can carry on claiming their expenses, they really do not care.
Divide and rule, this gives them more reasons to do so..

LurkingHusband · 29/07/2015 14:02

I think one of the reasons why so many people want to come to the UK is also due to language

Indeed. Payback for forcing the colonials to learn it (South Africa excepted).

The German comedian Henning Wehn points out the because Germany lost WW1 (and therefore her overseas colonies) he is able to call his bank and speak to a German in Germany.

suzanneyeswecan · 29/07/2015 15:17

although probably oversimplified this video explains some of the factors underlying global inequality

the 'bottom billion' phrase is from the work of Paul Collier

juneau · 29/07/2015 16:04

DC will not criticize the French for allowing this to drag on and on.
Why not?

DC is not criticising the French because he needs the French to work with Britain to resolve this crisis. Criticising our ally and closest neighbour isn't going to achieve anything positive for this country. France also allows Britain to have their 'border' in France, so that anyone not entitled to come to Britain can be stopped before they make the crossing. This is a favour that the French do for us.

Do you think the French want all these illegals camped out in France, causing all the problems they do at the port and the tunnel and for the people who live in and around Calais? Of course they bloody well don't. The mayor of Calais has been very outspoken about this being Britain's problem, since the migrants desperately want to get to Britain with its notoriously generous welfare state. The French would be absolutely delighted if we'd take the whole lot of them off their hands! And this IS our problem too - we can't just blame the French (tempting though it is).

BeckerLleytonnever · 29/07/2015 16:32

First- where the hell is Teresa may getting 7 million or however much it is from?

More cuts to the poor I bet.

second- genuine question- why don't these people stay in their coun try and fight for it? theyre young men, strong and fit enough to stay and fight.

why run away?

Moreshabbythanchic · 29/07/2015 16:42

According to TM several migrants succeeded in reaching the UK in the last 2 nights, although she wont reveal how many its estimated to be about 150. That's another 150 homeless, jobless, desperate people on our streets, how are they going to survive, well the only way they know, by turning to crime.

Her answer to the problem is to throw more of our money at them and a roll of fencing for good measure.

Its been said that it wont be long until a lorry driver or holiday maker will be killed as these people get more desperate, then she will trot out the old line of 'lessons will be learned'.

It doesn't affect the likes of her or DC and their families so they really couldn't give a shit!

juneau · 29/07/2015 16:50

I think TM does care actually, but as with everything in the sodding EU it takes the agreement of other member states to implement anything. From the govt's POV (and this would be the same whether its a Tory govt or a Labour one or anything else), the ongoing problems at the Channel Tunnel make them look like shit. They look indecisive and impotent - hardly the kind of image any govt wants to project. And any time they try to speed up deportations or get tougher on immigration they're hamstrung by various courts. I'd like to see this govt getting really tough on immigration. It would be REALLY popular and if we're being cynical it would also detract from austerity and other practices that are not always popular at home.

LurkingHusband · 29/07/2015 16:54

I'd like to see this govt getting really tough on immigration. It would be REALLY popular and if we're being cynical

I am cynical, so believe there's little incentive to stop a phenomenon which provides big businesses with one reason to keep wages low, no matter how popular with the chattering classes.

squoosh · 29/07/2015 16:54

second- genuine question- why don't these people stay in their coun try and fight for it? theyre young men, strong and fit enough to stay and fight.

Because they'd die.

Moreshabbythanchic · 29/07/2015 17:08

They should stay and fight, where would we all be if all our young men had run away when both the world wars started?

squoosh · 29/07/2015 17:10

Oh good grief.....

DadfromUncle · 29/07/2015 17:12

Another reason DC doesn't want to upset the French - somehow he has got to sort this out whilst still keeping EU onboard and making sure we all vote to stay in the EU.

However, as Juneau says, this isn't just a French problem. Our government pays lip service to enforcement but actually does virtually nothing.

juneau · 29/07/2015 17:19

somehow he has got to sort this out whilst still keeping EU on board

Yes, this too! Because of course the Tories' pledge to give us a referendum on the EU is predicated on their belief that they CAN renegotiate our membership and therefore convince the populace to vote to stay in. It will be interesting to see exactly how far the other nations are willing to bend to accommodate us.

onedayiwillmissthis · 29/07/2015 17:36

"oh good grief"Hmm

seriously, that's your contribution?

squoosh · 29/07/2015 17:38

Yes.

'oh good grief' is my contribution to someone comparing the situations in these countries to the World Wars.

That okay with you?

Moreshabbythanchic · 29/07/2015 17:43

War is war, people are killed. What's the difference?

onedayiwillmissthis · 29/07/2015 17:44

oh it's perfectly all right with me.

you have a right to your view

just like someone else has the right to compare behaviours in different war situations

squoosh · 29/07/2015 17:44

It's ridiculous to say 'oh stay and fight, that's what our noble boys did in 1914'.

squoosh · 29/07/2015 17:46

Fine if your opinion is 'I don't want them in my country' but to not know why people are fleeing these war torn hellholes is mind-boggling.

Moreshabbythanchic · 29/07/2015 17:47

Oh good grief!

squoosh · 29/07/2015 17:50

Clever.