-
Indeed. I understand the data and I agree with your sentiment.
Illegal migration is not about data, it’s optics. Look how far Rishi pushed the stop the boats agenda, brought in from the right wing.
IMO Labour have to snuff out that fire in order to push a new narrative. Otherwise it will always be thrown at them, it will come back to bite them when Suella is Con leader and scrapping the barrel for headlines.
CheBeef-
Illegal migration is not about data, it’s optics. Look how far Rishi pushed the stop the boats agenda, brought in from the right wing.
IMO Labour have to snuff out that fire in order to push a new narrative. Otherwise it will always be thrown at them, it will come back to bite them when Suella is Con leader and scrapping the barrel for headlines.
Stop The Boats is a Crosby|Textor import from Oz, where early on, we hoped Labor would show some decency, but they didn't hesitate to get right down in the gutter with the moustache-twirlers. Joining in with pandering to idiots seems to be their answer to nearly every confected culture war wedge.
Hoping Labour is better than Labor on that score, but it doesn't look promising
-
re Stopping the boats. Get the assessments working again with more people (which will be paid for by not putting up immigrants/asylum seekers in hotels for so long). Clear the back log and get those who can stay allowed to work ASAP, those who can't, processed back.
Open a pre-assessment centre in France.
A clear, legal route in will minimise the demand for boat crossings.
Net gain from people being able to work sooner, better optics from fewer small boats, less cost on housing.
Kimmo
villa-ru
Illegal migration is a minor problem, about 25000 people have entered the UK illegally so far this year, and many of those are seeking asylum having come from places like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
Legal migration has increased enormously since we left the EU, as we have an ageing population and lack skilled workers in many areas.
Hopefully we can have a grown up conversation about migration, even with Farage hectoring from the other side of the house, now, because if we want economic growth then attracting immigrants is a key part of achieving that.