AIBU to think the reason why many Asylum seekers come to UK is...

[SmallBoats]

a direct result of our imperialist past? People come to the UK in many instances because they are English speakers. English is widely spoken due to the massive British empire which used to exist. The British empire milked its territories, greatly increased its wealth despite causing massive human suffering in the process. The direct result of this is that English became a widely spoken language worldwide. It therefore isn't surprising many people seeking refuge from war torn countries try to get to the UK as they already speak English.

Language is one of the three main drivers. The other two are family already here and a thriving underground economy.

In France id cards are essential.

Do the French put them up in hotels? Is their benefits system contribution based?

It's cultural as well. English is the language of the internet and social media, films, TV and music. It is accessible to all.

This, yes.

The underground economy resonates more with me after a friend started volunteering with refugee teenagers who’d arrived as children, helping them apply for ‘adult’ leave to remain when they hit 18. When they didn’t get it, they would vanish within weeks, presumably into underground jobs — at least, you’d hope so, rather than slavery or crime.

You serious, people that come here are clued up on imperialist history? Or is it for the soft arse policies and freebies maybe?

Read the OP again.

For some, it probably is, yes. For the men who arrive in small boats I’d say it’s more about the U.K. having a strong underground economy and no system of compulsory identity. It’s easier to arrive here and work cash in hand than many other European countries. They’re generally from relatively poor, uneducated backgrounds. They aren’t generally fluent English speakers with skills and connections. They’ve been told traffickers and passage-makers that the U.K. is an easy place to live where work is plentiful and the government generous.

Yes the language is a big part of it would think but also agree we have a much bigger black market economy to work in than most Eu countries. We are not required to have ID cards either.

I think if the Government genuinely wanted to stop the boats they’d look at ID cards but that’s not politically palatable.

I’d say this is probably true. Also I think people have a false idea of the UK, like they used to have of the US with the ‘American dream’. They think the UK is a kind of utopia where they can get free handouts and housing - we have a reputation of being more generous than other European countries.

Maybe ... only some of the other countries were colonies. Interesting to see that the UK is quite far down the list.....

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Asylum_statistics&oldid=558844

until last year or so (and recent agreements) the highest proportion of those travelling in small boats were Albanians - hardly ex-colonial. there is a good degree of promoting the uk as being the land of milk and honey .

Europe in general, France as an example, also have a contribution based benefits system.
E.g. the amount of unemployment benefits you get depends for the initial number of year(s) on your past salary hence contributions.
Rather than being the same whether you never worked or did.

English is spoken around the world its much easier to find work etc in a language you can speak.

Its a falicy re benefits. Benefits in many other EU countries are far more generous than the uk

They come because they have a chance of working and often there are family connections

I think if the Government genuinely wanted to stop the boats they’d look at ID cards but that’s not politically palatable.

I seem to remember that the Blair government proposed ID cards but I can’t remember why it didn’t happen.

I thought that proportionally, the UK wasn't the largest destination of asylum seekers at all. A large proportion make their way to Turkey and stay there.

I do agree though that the language will certainly be a main drive to make it all the way to the UK.

Benefits are more generous in general, i.e. for people who contributed by working. But they are contribution related so nowhere as generous for people who never worked.

E.g. Switzerland has an unemployment benefit of 80% of your last salary for the first year of unemployment.

True re the number of Albanians

I’d say connections to people already here (so it tends to grow as per Albania), committed smugglers selling it in and ability to stay

Adding whichever country makes it easier will get more, harder then fewer. Med crossings are going up a fair bit each year

I work supporting people who work with young adults, including Asylum Seekers. The traffickers encourage these young people to (pay them loads to) go to the UK by telling them about the fantastic benefits they will get from the UK government e.g. plenty of hand outs, nice flat in London for free etc,

They can be VERY indignant when they get told that actually they won't be housed in a nice place of their own wherever they want for free, and demand that we comply with their "rights" - the ones they were told by the traffickers.

We do have contributions based befits to some degree. For example the first 6 months of any benefit are not means tested but based on NICs. Also our pensions (a benefit) are contributions based. Before UC benefits like incapacity be egit were NI-based.

Also, asylum seekers do not get benefits.

the other thing is, people smugglers dont only make money from getting people here, they make money from indebting that person once in the country of destination. So a Vietnamese woman being made to work illegally in a nail bar or a young man being locked in a house for a year to tend cannabis plants (both examples given on a radio 4 programme last week).

I am sure you have already been corrected, but that’s not what the OP is saying. Our Imperial history means that English as a language dominates.

There are many reasons why refugees might prefer to be in the UK than other countries.
However- you have assumed that the UK receives more refugees than other countries and this is not true at all. We are not even in the top ten. The 3 countries with the most refugees are Turkey, Pakistan and Uganda. The top European country for refugees is Germany.
The UK is middle of the table of European countries. We are not taking more than our fair share.

It's because other countries don't give them 5 star hotel accommodation, access to medical and dental care, and cash handouts.
The sooner we stop doing that the sooner the nonstop trail of young men will stop coming here trying get a free ride

It's also to do with the appalling way immigrants are treated in France and other European countries compared to the UK.

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