Well, just to be controversial, I'd say that if this government actually did something proactive about migration, rather than playing to their core support, there might actually be a solution. France actually plays more of its "part" than the UK does, in that it accepts more migrants... as does Germany. In 2021, Germany had 134,255 asylum applicants, France had 119,945 and the UK came 5th in the EU with 43,665 when everyone was supposed to take their "share" of migrants, so perhaps the boot is on the other foot. France also doesn't have the trump card of hiding on the far side of the channel and making it virtually impossible for migrants to claim asylum without putting themselves into the hands of people traffickers.rayf wrote: ↑Thu Jun 16 2022 12:07amwell - just to be controversial - I am in favour of the idea. I don't see any other realisic option unless France and the rest of the EU play their part.
Strangely, I think before we left the EU, it would have made sense for these so-called refugees to claim asylum in France or anywhere else in Europe. Once accepted, they would then have been free to travel all over the EU, including the UK. But not since brexit.
Currently I think the main problem is that they are coming from France - they are no longer refugees in danger. So asylum doesn't really apply.
I'm waiting for the backlash
Currently, the main problem is that the UK does not accept claims for asylum outside the UK except in specific circumstances and for limited numbers of selected nationalities. Then it blames France for not cracking down on people who have done nothing illegal (because they are not illegal migrants until they arrive in the UK). It also has done nothing to provide ID checking or to crack down on the black economy, unlike other states.
Finally, claims for asylum are valid if there is a proven link to the UK or there are family connections here.... regardless of where the applicant landed first. Attempting to weasel out of accepting refugees by dint of geographical separation really is a despicable ploy - especially from a government where a minister is an Iraqi Kurd..... you know, just like the ones they tried to deport yesterday.