Stopping the boats.

[Scenicgirl]

Honest question.
When Rishi Sunak announced the promise to tackle Channel migrant crossings as one of his five key pledges at the beginning of 2023, and subsequently failed and Keir Starmer appearing not to be concerned about the numbers arriving daily, when other EU countries have taken a much sterner stance sending a clear message, why can't we stop/pause the boats?

What about people who are being persecuted for their sexuality, religion, sex or political activism? Giving asylum is the right thing to do.

The majority of immigration into the UK is on working visas and because of lack of investment it's not sustainable. The percent of people coming on the boats are miniscule in comparison to those who come here legally often from countries with very dodgy human rights records.

I also want to stop the boats because they're dangerous and it supports exploitation. However we need heavy investment in our asylum processing to speed up the process.

If you actually want to stop the boats:

Create free and legal routes to claim asylum, especially abroad. People used to be able to claim at British consulates - that should be reintroduced. This would include a method of claiming in France.

Increase our aid budget to support countries which neighbour the greatest sources of asylum claims to ensure they are treated well and have a reason to stay.

Take our fair share of asylum seekers.

Stop conflating asylum seekers with immigrants. There were 84,000 people seeking aslyum in 2023, and 685,000 net immigrants. The previous Tory goverment could have reduced these numbers at any time, but it would be terrible for the economy, so they redirected peoples' xenophobic anger at asylum seekers.

Deterrence methods and cruelty to asylum seekers, including low benefits and terrible conditions have zero effect on the number of people crossing.

Quite right but there are plenty of other jobs going.

Why wouldn’t climate pressures increase asylum numbers?

We are already seeing it. Well apart from Italy using tough measures to reduce, the Nee went up prior to that

Can you say why climate pressures and volatility won’t increase numbers wanting to claim?

I agree with all of this.

People may want to claim but this is not a valid reason.

I am not saying that it should or should not be: over the next 50 years the First World is going to have to come to terms with the damage our practices have wrought on the Third, particularly the Global South. One way or another we will be paying for our carelessness with the world’s resources.

Resettlements may turn out to be in everyone’s interests.

This will be a major international crisis, it won’t just be UK vs The World.

Great post of 16.29, @DadJoke

Well something is clearly attracting them to the UK. It can't be a safe country as they already had that in France.

Consquences associated with climate change include food competition, difficult access to clean water, water stress and desertification, which exacerbate violence and conflicts that are already present within tense regions, prompting people to flee. A prime example of this is Syria.

Well said. Voice of reason.

Of course hence posting the U.K. is not alone and the EU and US are also seeing shifts, with politics in particular with the EU

I can’t see politicians selling in you need to take the global south due to your damage. If they do want get in with that message they’ll need better selling in

Maybe things like language, heritage, family, British history? To some extent a preference for the UK is a natural consequence of the British Empire

It's just a shame that the average Briton didn't really get much out of the Empire, isn't it ? Apart from a few jolly tunes and a sweet tooth.

No. The reasons for claiming asylum are laid out in the 1951 Treaty

Asylum Seekers

Yes. Thank you for this list. It is a problem almost beyond comprehension, and I think there will be more consequences that are not apparent yet.

But I don’t think the role of the UK is likely to be particularly special. Surely it will be obvious that humanity’s survival hinges on co-operation amongst the First World countries. Right?!?!?

Ironically, parts of the UK are facing water stress thanks to our own greedy water companies.

Here's Southern Water looking to get water from Norway. Where are the South Englanders going to flee to ?

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/sep/26/southern-water-considers-shipping-supplies-from-norwegian-fjords

How would you make it better? As an ordinary poor person with no influence and no connections.

How does someone in the UK make this country better? Thinking of a poor family with no influence or connections. Write to their MP, vote, attend a protest? None of these are allowed in a totalitarian state. Is there any other option other than terrorism?

And being now in one of the worlds richest countries?

Imagine being a struggling single mum on the verge of being sanctioned and being told how rich the UK is. If you can. Rings a bit hollow, really.

And then imagine the life you're fleeing that makes even that seem attractive.

If you can.

Or perhaps illegal immigrants, does that make you feel better?

SallyWD
People from all communities get on well and integrate. I love the fact my children know people from all over the world at their school. They friends who are Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, atheist. They are growing up with a good understanding of other cultures. I genuinely wouldn't want to move to a less diverse area.

If I remember correctly, your children attend a Church of England school with a complex admissions policy and some places reserved for children of 'other world religions'. Surely, those families of 'other world religions' are self-selecting and know they are signing up to a school with a strong Christian ethos whether they practice Christianity or not. Pupils at the school haven't been thrown together by chance.

The UK needs to do its part, which includes net zero, fully funded overseas development and taking our share of asylum seekers.

If everyone withheld their council tax for 3 months to show the government who actually pays them to work to ‘our’ advantage not their own personal agendas, they might just rethink their plans.
The angry protests do no good whatsoever, after three months pay the money owed, if enough people were to do this it would be effective.