Why is the public directing their anger at the individual asylum seeker that arrives at the shore…

[AnotherNC12345]

… rather than the smuggling / trafficking gangs that are responsible for the journey?

I think it’s very extreme to put all of the blame and the anger at the individual that arrives, rather than the people responsible for orchestrating the whole process. These individuals are often ‘sold the dream’ and hooked in by organised crime groups who direct them to the UK. I’ve looked at sample routes from different parts of the world (screenshots may be pending) and these are complex and would need local people, as well as law enforcement, customs officers and other government officials to turn a blind eye involved in smuggling across multiple borders.

It’s no secret that these crossings likely cost a lot of money, and I think it would be safe to assume that refugees would often be in crippling debt to the OCGs who will put pressure on them to pay it back, by threatening them and their families and I would go as far as to say they could then be coerced in to further committing crimes when granted asylum in order to pay back their debt.

These OCGs are likely involved in other trafficking / crime, not just of asylum seekers but likely drugs, weapons and sex as they have the connections across those borders.

I think it’s very unlikely that an asylum seeker is sitting there looking at all the European government websites and shopping for a country with the best benefits package and approaching a trafficker with a brochure like they’re picking a Jet2 holiday. But this is the narrative that’s often put us and fuelled in the media.

I don’t think it’s unreasonable to have a better system and want to control our borders better on a whole, but this sheer anger and blame placed at the human in front of us seems very misplaced, when they were likely manipulated in to thinking they can have a better life in this particular country and not another, and the problem is way way bigger than an individual.

Thanks.

So, what is a Briton? Is it linked to genealogy, religions, attitudes?

Yes, so much so that a lot of Irish people don't like to call it the "Republic of Ireland" and would much rather you refer to it as just "Ireland"

In Afghanistan? Seriously?
In Eritrea? Really?
In Syria? Honestly?
These are some top countries of asylum seekers.
More likely to be dead or locked up with nil chance of helping your family get to a better place.
I also think too many forget that in Afghanistan at least those at most risk fought/supported the British army - we now tell them we want to wash our hands? Not really in the Church of England tradition is it. Though you will be pleased more Afghans claim in France.

You’re basically telling an Irish person no, you’re not, you’re British?

That’s just factually incorrect correct. Ireland may be on the same landmass as the UK but it’s a separate nation. Much as France and Spain are. Try telling a French person they’re Spanish 🤣

Have to laugh about the Afghans - a sad laugh.

We trained their army, we trained their police, we invested billions in their infrastructure and their education, we tried so much to help them.

.........and they folded to the Taliban in under a week.

I'm ethnically Indian. DH and I moved here back in the 90s. I'd consider myself British Indian but accept I'm not English.

No, I'm telling an Irish person they come from the British Isles, which is a geographical fact.

Not according to Reform and the conservatives, you’re not. We “left”. Didn’t get the memo?

For the millionth time - that’s just semantics.

They’re supported by the public purse.

I'll repeat it for you, the British isles are located on the continent of Europe. Therefore I am technically European and there is nothing you can do about it.

Left the EU, or do you mean Europe

What is, then. Why will they never be “Britons”, if they are citizens?

What exactly is ‘stock’? We aren’t cattle fgs.
I’m now wondering if I’m a Briton, as whilst I may appear white British and was definitely bred in England by people with generations of British ancestors, though both English and Scottish, (my dad liked genealogy), I’m adopted and can’t trace my birth lineage back so well, gosh who knew how complex it might be! maybe I need an ancestry check.
I can’t believe your average person writes this dehumanising bull.

Fair point. Lazy of me. I think you know what I mean, though.

You’re factually incorrect.

They’re the British Isles. It refers to Great Britain and Ireland and the thousands of other smaller ones. That’s the geographic classification.

At a cost of 0.3% out of the government budget - please don’t be under the illusion that without asylum seekers we would be in the Brexit Utopia some sought.

Oh, I am fully European, too. Stupid idea to leave the EU as well.

I still don’t understand why your friends at the Premier shop will never be “Britons, though?

Ok.

I know you don't.

Can someone just explain what a Briton is, please.

Because the only definition I can find says “citizen or native” of Great Britain.

So if someone has citizenship… they would be a Briton. Including the nice people in the Premier Shop.

So - please - explain. If they have become British citizens, they’re “Britons”.

I’m not labouring under any such delusion.

Some people don’t care how small you make the expenditure seem - they’d prefer the amount was zero. And the financial burden isn’t even the most significant issue.

It's not worth the effort. You were trying to insinuate the British Isles aren't part of Europe. I don't think you could cope.

Of course they’re not.

Quite. I wonder if the nice people at the Premier shop have brown skin and whether that makes all the difference in the minds of some posters?

If that’s the case, I do wish they’d have the courage of their convictions and just say so.