One of the biggest hot topics is the endless illegal migrant boats crossing the English Channel. And last week, we saw this dismal government have a go at dealing with the problem.
President Macron’s visit gave the opportunity to strike a landmark deal with France. And the result? A “one in: one out” arrangement where we can swap illegal migrants for legal ones. The maths of this means that fully 94% of illegal migrants will stay in the UK.
The new government has an appalling record on this. Their first act (on illegal migration) was to axe the Rwanda scheme. This was set up as a deterrent and before it even came into action, it was driving down migrant numbers. Even the Irish agreed, as they started to see illegal migration across the border from Norther Ireland as illegal migrants sought sanctuary from potentially being deported to Africa.
Since axing the scheme, illegal migrant arrivals have ballooned, the trade being delighted that Labour’s confused approach to tackling the problem emboldened migrants.
Labour’s alternative policy – “smashing the gangs” – has failed for blindingly obvious reasons. Smash a gang, and it creates an opportunity for other gangs to fill the newly created void.
And it’s a simple business model. For up to $10,000, a migrant will get delivered to the beaches in Kent, where they will be offered free three-star accommodation for as long as it takes for the free lawyers to come up with a plausible argument for them to claim asylum. Then they get a council house, a job, and free access to our benefits system and health services. What’s not to like?
I did hear a suggestion that whilst failed asylum seekers will get sent back, successful ones should be billed for the costs of access, in a way that every student with a student loan is familiar with. With costs running up to the hundreds of thousands of pounds for each migrant, it seems a reasonable proposal on first inspection, and will certainly make them think twice before coming to the UK.
The government has to get a grip on this. It is tackling huge unproductive costs in areas such as welfare and benefits. To be throwing money we simply cannot afford at a problem we can solve is ludicrous. And for many people across the country, it is the unfairness that hurts the most.
