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.

Read the thread. The poster you are questioning has already answered this point.

And some fought alongside the British Army.
This is repeated over and over - I’m really not sure why people can’t imagine they wouldn’t go further than France ever, for any reason, if they needed refuge.

Why does Labour talk about their illegal crossing?

I think the public is angry at the whole rotten system, including their own politicians who are either unable or unwilling to put a stop to it and perform the government's most basic role of maintaining a secure homeland.

Because Labour is trying to sound like Reform Lite.

Why should those countries take all the asylum seekers?

I have no idea. You’d have to ask the Labour Party.

So because no one died that makes it ok?? Never mind terrifying people and potentially destroying any belongings they have left in the world. That’s fine as long as no one died.

have you heard what you sound like?

I don’t think they post here. Well not admitting it anyway.

Some might have views on why

He was born in Wales, that makes him Welsh. YOU can repeat it all you like, facts are facts.

@ColdSalads seems curiously reluctant to spell out exactly what she means here.

Her avoidance speaks volumes.

A quick Google search say that a recent change in U.K. law makes it illegal, but that contravenes international law, which says that crossing that way is not illegal as long as you present yourself to authorities to claim asylum asap. The Labour Party themselves repealed the change in U.K. law after the election…so I’m still none the wiser as to why they say it’s illegal. Pandering to the voters who might defect to reform, is my best guess.

quite.
in the event of me needing to leave the uk for potentially years, I would try and make my way to Denmark or Norway, I speak the language, I have friends there, it feels a safe distance from where I am now.
I don’t know why this is such a difficult concept to understand,

Thanks for looking it up, it’s odd from an ex human rights lawyer, is it just lying? Maybe so.

Because Labour, like previous governments (why won't they learn?!), is running scared of Nigel Farage.

He would probably blame it on the speech writers and say that he hadn't checked the content before saying it out loud.

Well the dont have to 🤷‍♂️

Sorry, I misspoke.

I don't think they warrant British asylum if they've passed through safe countries.

Well, you are entitled to that view but the law doesn't agree with you.

Because people are stupid and also quite racist.

I'm fed up of trying to debate, discuss with rationally or ' understand' bigots.

If you are thinking of voting Reforn because you are unhappy with the current government, your are either thick or racist, but probably a bit of both .

I have come to realise that there isn't any point in debating with racists and bigots. They are not going to change their views. However, if they are not challenged, then it may give an impression to others reading the thread that their views are widely accepted.

The law also forbids paying people paying for a lift on a small boat so... 🤷‍♂️

Goodness. Only big cruise ships for me from now on then...

OP we are all competing for resources in this country. School places, housing, GP/hospital appointments, space on the road etc.

It's instinctive to find yourself directing most of your frustration at the person you're competing with, rather than the faceless "organisers".

For example - if you were standing in a long queue at the Tesco till, and someone pushed in front of you, you'd blame that person, not Tesco for their lack of tills.

It's human nature.

Honestly, I spat feathers when my young DS experienced racist bullying at school, and when we appeared on our cleaner’s rota as “the Muslim house”, but conflating all concerns about the pace and volume of immigration/integration with actual racism is just batshit. More importantly, it dilutes what it means to be - objectively - racist and offers cover to actual far-right loons by allowing them to hide in plain sight.

Reform’s current polling suggests certain views ARE widely accepted. Tarring everyone who doesn’t want open borders with a racist brush seems quite likely to encourage a pressing of the “fuck it” button that a vote for Reform entails. Politicians of every stripe should have been more honest about the art of the possible wrt immigration, but equally the Left needs to do better (and I wish they’d fucking get on with it!)