To add to all this, the 'boats problem' is entirely of the government's creation. Prior to leaving the EU we had a returns agreement (Dublin 3 Treaty) which made crossing the Channel in a small boat not worth it. This is because after braving the Channel and shelling out for the trip, anyone making the crossing would be taken straight back to where they started (France). Only now they'd have no money.
As soon as we left the Dublin 3 Treaty the risk reward ratio was changed entirely in the migrant Channel crosser's favour. Firstly, it's not that dangerous (odds are over 2000:1 you'll make it alive) but more than that they know a) most asylum applications are successful and b) it'll probably take 18+ months before their claim is processed. Even a scabby hotel in the UK is better than a tent on the beach in Calais.
The government were repeatedly warned about this by migration experts and their own Civil Servants. What's particularly galling is that even outside the EU we could still be in the Dublin 3 Treaty because we have a common border with the EU.
All of this was avoidable but the tories wanted a culture war wedge issue to satisfy the tiny proportion of the electorate that was too thick and too racist to understand the reality. The irony being that we have more immigrants/asylum seekers (c. 120k Channel crossers) than we would have had if the tories had been more grown up and were actually capable of controlling our borders.
It was reading through this tutting and swearing under my breath in agreement with the stupidity of all until I got to this bit "This is why the Home Office has hired an aircraft hanger and plane fuselage so it can practice forcibly getting asylum seekers onto a plane" and I had to read it again to make sure I didn't imagine it. Sorry what pardon? There's a hanger somewhere in the UK right now where home office officials are being paid to pretend to forcibly move imaginary asylum seekers on to a plane that will never take off?! Sometimes we get so horribly numb to this obscene cruel stupid govt that we brush past what they are doing but this is truly the most batshit thing I have ever read. How in the hell can this be allowed to happen and how the hell can they justify paying for it it is utterly extrodinary and so fucked up it hurts to think about it. Anyway the rest of the article is bitterly brilliant as per so thank you for summing it up sentence by stupid sentence. The sooner the polling stations open and we can have a mandate based on reality the better.
Surely it should be ‘will of the f@*king people’ to really drive home his point....desperate times for an increasingly irrelevant dying embers of a PM. The long-list for worst PM ever has had a real uptick of late....
It not only exposes the deluded logic around that vile (and illegal) Rwanda policy, but at the same time shines a huge, blinding light on the pathetic ineptitude of Sunak and his -quite frankly- sorry excuse for a “government” (the quotes are mandatory).
Excellent as usual. However I do disagree with one point. Surely his point about deterrence is not about showing how safe Rwanda is, but to confirm the prejudice that asylum seekers come to the UK in order, as the right wing extremists see it, to sponge off our free social services and because everything is better here.
This feels less like blogging and more like therapy? Excellent though as usual
To add to all this, the 'boats problem' is entirely of the government's creation. Prior to leaving the EU we had a returns agreement (Dublin 3 Treaty) which made crossing the Channel in a small boat not worth it. This is because after braving the Channel and shelling out for the trip, anyone making the crossing would be taken straight back to where they started (France). Only now they'd have no money.
As soon as we left the Dublin 3 Treaty the risk reward ratio was changed entirely in the migrant Channel crosser's favour. Firstly, it's not that dangerous (odds are over 2000:1 you'll make it alive) but more than that they know a) most asylum applications are successful and b) it'll probably take 18+ months before their claim is processed. Even a scabby hotel in the UK is better than a tent on the beach in Calais.
The government were repeatedly warned about this by migration experts and their own Civil Servants. What's particularly galling is that even outside the EU we could still be in the Dublin 3 Treaty because we have a common border with the EU.
All of this was avoidable but the tories wanted a culture war wedge issue to satisfy the tiny proportion of the electorate that was too thick and too racist to understand the reality. The irony being that we have more immigrants/asylum seekers (c. 120k Channel crossers) than we would have had if the tories had been more grown up and were actually capable of controlling our borders.
Excellent dissection of a speech by a grifting piece of shit who needs consigning to dog poo bin of history.
It was reading through this tutting and swearing under my breath in agreement with the stupidity of all until I got to this bit "This is why the Home Office has hired an aircraft hanger and plane fuselage so it can practice forcibly getting asylum seekers onto a plane" and I had to read it again to make sure I didn't imagine it. Sorry what pardon? There's a hanger somewhere in the UK right now where home office officials are being paid to pretend to forcibly move imaginary asylum seekers on to a plane that will never take off?! Sometimes we get so horribly numb to this obscene cruel stupid govt that we brush past what they are doing but this is truly the most batshit thing I have ever read. How in the hell can this be allowed to happen and how the hell can they justify paying for it it is utterly extrodinary and so fucked up it hurts to think about it. Anyway the rest of the article is bitterly brilliant as per so thank you for summing it up sentence by stupid sentence. The sooner the polling stations open and we can have a mandate based on reality the better.
Masterclass from the Charlie Cale School of Bullshit Calling. I wonder if anyone in government would be brave enough to peer into this mirror?
Terrific piece, Ian. How long can this charade go on...?
For as long as its meant to, until the polling stations open
Time to set up rolling jeering crowds at the end of Downing Street for a good taunt, I feel.
This isn’t a government, it’s a bunch of ventriloquists’ dummies with the hands of Murdoch, Bannon, Levido and Farage up their arses.
Oh, Ian, what would we do without you? Thank you for this precise and targeted demolition - keep up the good work.!
“The fact people believe these ratios is a catastrophic failure of politics and the media.” Nope. It’s called successful propaganda.
If Sunak thinks he’ll be PM after the election I’ve got some magic beans I can sell him 🙄
Surely it should be ‘will of the f@*king people’ to really drive home his point....desperate times for an increasingly irrelevant dying embers of a PM. The long-list for worst PM ever has had a real uptick of late....
This piece is superb.
It not only exposes the deluded logic around that vile (and illegal) Rwanda policy, but at the same time shines a huge, blinding light on the pathetic ineptitude of Sunak and his -quite frankly- sorry excuse for a “government” (the quotes are mandatory).
Two thousand words of truth v 26 seconds of patronising crap. This needs to be copied and pasted into a Six o'clock News autocue. Nice one.
Excellent piece Ian, thank you. We need an election now to consign this appalling government to history.
I wonder if he’s enjoying his new arsehole. Nice job Ian.
Excellent as usual. However I do disagree with one point. Surely his point about deterrence is not about showing how safe Rwanda is, but to confirm the prejudice that asylum seekers come to the UK in order, as the right wing extremists see it, to sponge off our free social services and because everything is better here.