Immigration/ brexit

[Lazykitten]

I've heard how us coming out of the EU has massively escalated the 'small boats' immigration. The figures/timeline seem to back this up. However, i don't understand why. Can someone explain it to me please (preferably like I'm a small child!). Thanks

Exactly. Also, quite basic economics that it's better making trade deals with your neighbours than countries on the other side of the globe 😂

Well said Mr Kinnock.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-eu-uk-rejoin-starmer-neil-kinnock-small-boats-b2829291.html

@DuncinToffee

The papers you refer to are all based on estimates and assumptions going back to November 2016 as opposed to actual measurements. Remember the treasury report issued before the referendum which estimated:

500,000 to 800,000 jobs would be lost just by a vote to leave. Never happened.

UK GDP would have shrunk by 4% by Q3 2018 whilst UK was still in the EU. Never happened.

@XelaM

UK has a trade deal with the EU. It’s called the TCA.

@MaybeNotBob

If being in the EU guarantees lower immigration, how do you explain the fact that; Germany, France, Spain and Italy all have higher immigration than the UK?

Someone is getting a bit desperate

Kinnock was in favour of. 2% wealth tax on those with assets over £10 million. His net worth is estimated at £9.5 million. How convenient.

His EU pension is estimated at £83K per year. So, is his suggestion that UK should consider rejoining the EU based in what he thinks is best for the UK or what’s best for himself?

@DuncinToffee

Yet another evasion of the question:

If being in the EU guarantees lower immigration, why do; Germany, France, Spain and Italy all have higher immigration than the UK?

Farage's Brexit Boats has a nice ring to it (credit Ed Davey)

It's a stupid question because every country has different attitudes to immigration and ofcourse there are geographical factors.

The question the OP posed

I've heard how us coming out of the EU has massively escalated the 'small boats' immigration.

You have not been able to provide any evidence that Brexit has not increased that.

Whataboutery is all you have left.

@DuncinToffee

You, the OP and others have made the assumption that if two events happen at the same time, they must be connected.

As pointed out by others earlier in the thread, illegals used to enter the UK in the back of vehicle. However, they now enter by boat as there are no checks at either end like the channel tunnel. How much of the increase in boat arrivals is offset by reduced numbers in the back of vehicles?

Also, as pointed out by others, wars in the Middle East has resulted in millions moving westwards into the EU starting in 2011 due to the Syrian civil war (source statista Nov 2024), nine years before the UK left the EU.

Russia-Ukraine war which started in 2022 has also contributed to more people moving westward into the EU.

In 2020, migration into the EU from outside the EU was 2 million. In 2021, migration into the EU was 2.4 million. In 2022, the figure more than doubled to 5.1 million. Source Eurostat 2024.

So, as more people migrate into the EU, the more that are likely to end up in Calais to cross the channel. Remember that the ones in Calais don’t apply for asylum in France. Hence France don’t have to deal with them.

If being in the EU makes border control more effective, what difference would geography make? None is the answer.