Diane Abbott’s take on drownings in Med

... Primrose53?

I am genuinely interested to know what it is that these refugees come to the UK for because, contrary to your assumption that "we all know" - I don't think we do.

If the benefits are +/- similar in other countries - but to no great degree (there is information on the 'net giving more precise information) - what brings them here?

Whitewavemark2

choughdancer

pascal30 I agree; it is a wonderful poem!

Some heartening posts - thank you all, it gives me hope, that people are not so awful as I sometimes fear.

Sadly, I think you're first fear is more likely Wwmk2

Primrose53

The reason they travel through all these countries to get here is because no other country offers them what we do. I’m not going to list everything because we all know.

Refugees claiming asylum in France in fact get more benefits than those in the UK - and France still has more claimants than the UK.

Germany offers more financial help than either France or the UK.

Other countries also allow claimants to work if their applications haven't been decided within xx number of months.

In the UK, whatever skills these claimants might have are wasted because they are not allowed to work. If they were allowed to, they could contribute towards their own upkeep.

So - what is it that we offer that other countries don't?

Pascal, I agree with you that this government is depressing, I feel beyond despair
Oh and Farzanah, spot on

Certainly inept. Look at the Bibby Stockholm barge thread!

choughdancer

France suggested that the UK should set up asylum processing in France in 2021 (From the Guardian: 'France has proposed setting up joint processing centres on French soil, where applications for asylum in Britain could be examined by British immigration officers.')

If we had done that then, I believe the waiting time for assessment of asylum claims would not be so disgracefully long.

This government is so depressing and inept

Oreo

Naivety I think Nicenanny3 and a sense of wanting the world to be wonderful. Also thinking that these thousands of young men are all decent beings who will bring nothing but good.
Backdoor illegal economic migrants who need to have their applications processed as fast as possible.

Very true.

The reason they travel through all these countries to get here is because no other country offers them what we do. I’m not going to list everything because we all know.

As for the tired excuse that they want to go somewhere English speaking, if they are as super intelligent and educated as some on here want us to believe, then they should pick up any other language very quickly too.

Anyway most European countries that we have holidayed in we find most people speak English so they should feel right at home.

It is just one excuse after another.

Oreo talks about half of Africa emptying. Given war, famine and climate change that’s likely

Of course we Europeans colonised more than half of Africa, hence the links between people in thst continent and European countries

France suggested that the UK should set up asylum processing in France in 2021 (From the Guardian: 'France has proposed setting up joint processing centres on French soil, where applications for asylum in Britain could be examined by British immigration officers.')

If we had done that then, I believe the waiting time for assessment of asylum claims would not be so disgracefully long.

Naivety I think Nicenanny3 and a sense of wanting the world to be wonderful. Also thinking that these thousands of young men are all decent beings who will bring nothing but good.
Backdoor illegal economic migrants who need to have their applications processed as fast as possible.

12:26Oreo

Whitewavemark2

choughdancer

pascal30 I agree; it is a wonderful poem!

Some heartening posts - thank you all, it gives me hope, that people are not so awful as I sometimes fear.

Another naive emotional post.
A huge amount of the young men making the crossing are economic migrants who have been turned down for asylum by another country.
Anyone remember the plane load of ‘kind’ passengers refusing to let a criminal rapist migrant be taken away? Bet they regretted that afterwards.

Yes Oreo I bet they did and the plane full of criminals who Keir Starmer and others stopped and one went on to kill someone, bet their proud of that. All this virtue signalling on here by some posters, perhaps we should have a saint emoji 😇, or perhaps a naive one.

silverlining48

Perhaps put some blame on the Home Office. Why are they not doing their job and dealt with claims. ? Is it a governmental decree?
The problem' if it is wont go away until that is done.

I agree, there’s plenty can be laid at the door of the HO.
Your other point about speaking some English ( by migrants) and that being the reason they want to come here could well be true of some of them.That doesn’t mean we have to take them, only a really good reason for asylum would be considered.
We can’t continue to take anyone who simply wants to come here until half of Africa and anywhere else has emptied.
Can you imagine what Councils have to do to house so many coming over every single day in good weather.

Perhaps put some blame on the Home Office. Why are they not doing their job and dealt with claims. ? Is it a governmental decree?
The problem' if it is wont go away until that is done.

I wonder why wedon't liaise with France to do an initial assessment in France where people could have their papers looked at, before they destroy them, and also have photo's and fingerprints taken. I imagine many migrants are wanting to reach the UK because they have family or friends here. If that is the case I think those families or friends should be contacted and if they agree to feed and house the migrants, than their application for asylum and working visas could be processed immediately. This would save the government hotel costs and increase our workforce AND mean that the migrants didn't have to risk their lives..

Oreo You dont take my point about speaking english, would you if having to flee - just take a moment to imagine that - choose to go somewhere where you didn't speak a word of the language or woukd you prefer somewhere English speaking?

I would be willing to bet, given a choice, anyone would choose somewhere where they would understand and be understood. It makes sense.
Believe me I know how hard it is to settle in a foreign land , its not easy.

On the other hand😄😄😄

Whitewavemark2

choughdancer

pascal30 I agree; it is a wonderful poem!

Some heartening posts - thank you all, it gives me hope, that people are not so awful as I sometimes fear.

Another naive emotional post.
A huge amount of the young men making the crossing are economic migrants who have been turned down for asylum by another country.
Anyone remember the plane load of ‘kind’ passengers refusing to let a criminal rapist migrant be taken away? Bet they regretted that afterwards.

silverlining48

Coughdancer I too applaud your posts.

To add, were we in the same situation as those fleeing their countries, we would choose to go where we understood the language, and of course due to historic reasons English as a second language is spoken all over the world.
We take fewer than 5 other major european countries as it is. Germany fir instance takes twice as many refugees. ( reported this morning on Today r4.
As fir 'they should stay in the first safe country,' that would mean some southern ( poorer) countries would have to take the va st majority , which they do, while we, being furthest away would not expect to take any. Which for some would suit.
Is that fair? Is that decent? kind? No. It isn't.

We don’t have to ‘take them’ and neither do other countries if they are refused asylum.
We just need to get on and process applications a lot faster.

choughdancer

pascal30 I agree; it is a wonderful poem!

Some heartening posts - thank you all, it gives me hope, that people are not so awful as I sometimes fear.

Nobody has to stay in the first safe country but to then travel through several safe countries, ending up in France and then risking death by drowning is a bizarre thing to do.
Migration Watch says that a lot of these young men ( yes, mainly young men) have often been refused asylum in other countries so make a last ditch attempt to get here.That can be the only reason so many make the Channel crossing.

pascal30 I agree; it is a wonderful poem!

choughdancer

Nicenanny3 I copied those words directly from your post! If you were quoting someone else you could have attributed them to whoever originally posted or said them.

Wrong!
It was my comment. Apology to nicenanny3 needed.

Maremia

choughdancer!! Think you have been voted the best poster on this thread.

Not by me.

Nicenanny3 I copied those words directly from your post! If you were quoting someone else you could have attributed them to whoever originally posted or said them.

Well said silverlining48!