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Original poster

How bothered are you about Small Boats?

1000 replies

Spinet · 14/09/2023 11:19

I think the idea that people think Small Boats with illegal immigrants on them is a really pressing issue is made up by politicians to have something to campaign on. Am I right? Is this a pressing issue as far as you're concerned?

I'm not really talking about immigration/ asylum seekers in general, just the small boats everyone keeps mentioning. If you're worried about people dying in the channel I get that, but do you think people finding their way here illegally is a major issue for our country at the moment?

I think it's clear I don't but I will accept I'm wrong about this being a made up issue if the majority disagree with me.

If you want to vote YABU= this is one of my top ten concerns. YANBU = I don't think it's a top ten issue for the country.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
37
ZadocPDederick · 14/09/2023 23:59

Clavinova · 14/09/2023 23:49

ZadocPDederick
We're already committed to accepting refugees, and have been for decades

We're not committed to paying €1.5m to the European Union for failing to accommodate 350 refugees are we?

No, but then we're accommodating refugees, so it hasn't arisen.

Clavinova · 14/09/2023 23:59

So - Ireland say they haven't got any room to accommodate more refugees, Germany suspended the voluntary deal with Italy on Wednesday, Italy say they haven't got any room, the immigration lawyers say that conditions in Greece are unsafe for refugees - and I see that the Polish prime minister wants to hold a referendum on the EU's immigration plan;
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/13/polish-prime-minister-to-hold-referendum-on-eus-immigration-plan

And Keir Starmer is going to broker a returns deal with the EU...

Dymaxion · 15/09/2023 00:02

Are we saying the Conservative Government have simply been inept over the last 4 years ? Have lacked forward planning ? the ability to target resources where they are needed ?
2,000, 8,000, 28,000, 45,000 is the tally for people crossing the Channel for the last 4 years. If this was as big an issue for the UK as Sunak's pledges makes out, why are they only now interested in doing something about it ?

@Clavinova care to comment on the above ?

DuncinToffee · 15/09/2023 00:06

Clavinova · 14/09/2023 23:59

So - Ireland say they haven't got any room to accommodate more refugees, Germany suspended the voluntary deal with Italy on Wednesday, Italy say they haven't got any room, the immigration lawyers say that conditions in Greece are unsafe for refugees - and I see that the Polish prime minister wants to hold a referendum on the EU's immigration plan;
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/13/polish-prime-minister-to-hold-referendum-on-eus-immigration-plan

And Keir Starmer is going to broker a returns deal with the EU...

What's wrong with a returns deal?

The Rwanda deal also includes a retiurns agreement

Dymaxion · 15/09/2023 00:07

I do hope everyone is giving donations to the RNLI given how much the Governents ineptitude has cost this lifesaving volunteer service in regular shouts into the Channel ?

EasternStandard · 15/09/2023 00:07

Clavinova · 14/09/2023 23:59

So - Ireland say they haven't got any room to accommodate more refugees, Germany suspended the voluntary deal with Italy on Wednesday, Italy say they haven't got any room, the immigration lawyers say that conditions in Greece are unsafe for refugees - and I see that the Polish prime minister wants to hold a referendum on the EU's immigration plan;
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/13/polish-prime-minister-to-hold-referendum-on-eus-immigration-plan

And Keir Starmer is going to broker a returns deal with the EU...

It’s more the burden sharing part?

30k upwards

I don’t think returns will be a huge part. It’ll be a net gain

Clavinova · 15/09/2023 00:08

Dymaxion
care to comment on the above?

Calls for a British-style approach to processing asylum claims in non-European countries such as Rwanda are growing among EU members as official figures suggest that more than one million migrants will arrive in the bloc this year.

Statistics from the EU’s Agency for Asylum (EUAA), which includes Norway and Switzerland, show that 519,000 asylum applications were lodged in the first six months of this year, with a projected return to levels not seen since the crisis of 2015 and 2016.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/asylum-claims-european-union-1-million-j3q9q9xdg

Maddy70 · 15/09/2023 00:08

Not worried about the boats. But I am bothered about them in as much as they are being treated appallingly. These are people !

Clavinova · 15/09/2023 00:10

EasternStandard
It’s more the burden sharing part?
30k upwards
I don’t think returns will be a huge part. It’ll be a net gain

Definitely - we were a net importer under the Dublin Agreement.

Highandlows · 15/09/2023 00:10

This country self loathing is beyond believe.

Clavinova · 15/09/2023 00:14

Maddy70
Not worried about the boats. But I am bothered about them in as much as they are being treated appallingly. These are people !

I thought you lived in Spain. Much to criticise there - asylum seekers beaten and kicked by police/guards at the border, not to mention Europe's largest shanty town just outside Madrid.

ZadocPDederick · 15/09/2023 00:20

Lastchancechica · 14/09/2023 18:04

Those houses are OWNED by people, you can’t just take them like some nazi regime.

Secondly Labour have promised to build over the green belt as part of a levelling up scheme.

“ back the builders, not the blockers” according to Starm.

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/labour-will-build-on-green-belt-to-boost-housing-starmer-says-12882668

Show quote history

Ever heard of compulsory purchase powers for local authorities?

Tories have been building on the green belt throughout their time in power.

Maddy70 · 15/09/2023 00:20

Clavinova · 15/09/2023 00:14

Maddy70
Not worried about the boats. But I am bothered about them in as much as they are being treated appallingly. These are people !

I thought you lived in Spain. Much to criticise there - asylum seekers beaten and kicked by police/guards at the border, not to mention Europe's largest shanty town just outside Madrid.

Yes my point exactly...

Maddy70 · 15/09/2023 00:22

Clavinova · 15/09/2023 00:14

Maddy70
Not worried about the boats. But I am bothered about them in as much as they are being treated appallingly. These are people !

I thought you lived in Spain. Much to criticise there - asylum seekers beaten and kicked by police/guards at the border, not to mention Europe's largest shanty town just outside Madrid.

And thanks for taking so much notice of me. I feel honoured ;) I can't say I know anything about any other poster I'm glad I made an impact on you

PallyRoe · 15/09/2023 00:23

I’m torn on this one.

The conditions are appalling and my heart aches at the idea of a mother so desperate that she would attempt to cross the seas in a dangerous vessel with her children.

I also know that this crisis will only get worse, millions of people will continue to try to escape as climate change hits, and that realistically (as horrific as it is) it is completely impossible for Western countries to take in every person who is desperate without severely impacting everyone’s quality of life.

Clavinova · 15/09/2023 00:39

Maddy70
And thanks for taking so much notice of me

You regularly contribute to 'isn't the UK awful'/'hasn't the UK gone downhill' type threads.

Maddy70 · 15/09/2023 00:59

Clavinova · 15/09/2023 00:39

Maddy70
And thanks for taking so much notice of me

You regularly contribute to 'isn't the UK awful'/'hasn't the UK gone downhill' type threads.

Which is why I no longer live there. ...and??

Lastchancechica · 15/09/2023 05:37

If a new party emerged right now Sir Keir would stand no chance, he is banking on not a positive vote in him or his party but on a punishment vote against the current government.

There is nothing progressive or hopeful about that. When push comes to shove will women really vote to erase themselves? Will brexiteers really trust Starm, a staunch remainer with Europe? Will conservatives vote Labour or hold their noses and vote for their own party? Does anyone anywhere in the red wall seats really trust Starm? Will those with skin in the game trust him with the economy after the financial meltdown in 2008? Is anyone looking at Raynor imagining her let loose in number 10?

The truth is the Labour Party have a trust deficit. They have a competence deficit and they are STILL even after all of this time to prepare wildly out of touch with the majority.

Goldenbear · 15/09/2023 05:42

Leftsthatway · 14/09/2023 21:24

Of course it's left leaning! Stupid to say otherwise 😂

Show quote history

😂i assume you are being ironic!

hattie43 · 15/09/2023 05:52

Lastchancechica · 15/09/2023 05:37

If a new party emerged right now Sir Keir would stand no chance, he is banking on not a positive vote in him or his party but on a punishment vote against the current government.

There is nothing progressive or hopeful about that. When push comes to shove will women really vote to erase themselves? Will brexiteers really trust Starm, a staunch remainer with Europe? Will conservatives vote Labour or hold their noses and vote for their own party? Does anyone anywhere in the red wall seats really trust Starm? Will those with skin in the game trust him with the economy after the financial meltdown in 2008? Is anyone looking at Raynor imagining her let loose in number 10?

The truth is the Labour Party have a trust deficit. They have a competence deficit and they are STILL even after all of this time to prepare wildly out of touch with the majority.

Edited

👏👏👏

I would tread hot coals rather than vote Labour.

Lastchancechica · 15/09/2023 05:56

Despite op trying to bend the thread to vomit up her ‘preferred’ answer, that most people don’t care about small boats and it’s just a media led deflection.

Most people DO care.

For ethical and moral reasons.
For legal and safety reasons
For security reasons
For housing, services and space reasons

We don’t want our seas turning into watery graves by people smugglers and Human and drugs traffickers.

We don’t want uncontrolled volumes of people arriving and housing being built right across our green belt.

We don’t want more of Labour’s dodgy back room deals with the. EU that disadvantage us. Again.

What is this so unreasonable about that?

Lastchancechica · 15/09/2023 06:12

I am genuinely puzzled are Labour trying their level best to LOSE the election?

If I could come up with five policies to guarantee the loss of support in the red/blue wall this is precisely the policies I would choose. It makes no sense whatsoever. To announce a deal with the EU to take more migrants!! It’s utterly absurd.

It boils down to this:

Starmer is either too stupid and insular to understand how people feel about this topic and has made a massive misstep - one that people will remember. The peoples trust in him to deal with the EU and migrants now evaporating over night.

Or, he is actively trying to lose the election.

You pick. Neither option stands him in good stead to be the next Prime Minister.

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