Darren Jones

If politics on tv and politics threads wind people up to boiling point then probably best not to get drawn in then.
Also probably best to remember that many others have a different view to you on the subject.

Lizziedrip I m with you all the way I have to try and stay off these threads as it winds me up so much but thank you for saying it for me

I do feel sorry for the children as thry have no choice. In the scramble for boats, there seems little regard for their safety.

Women and children first seems to be a concept which is alien to some.

Yes Maybee Darren Jones really is an impressive young man who, IMO, would make a good party leader one day. Perhaps that’s why some actors want to milk this for all it’s worth!

Re QT, it winds me up every time I watch it but I keep being drawn to it🙈 The programme is biased towards the right; FB is a rubbish chair - whoever talks the loudest and refuses to stop gets all the oxygen; polite panelists who ‘wait their turn’ often get sidelined.

And as for some of the audience contributions … well I’d better keep those thoughts to myself 🙈

My partner told me about Darren ages ago during the enquiry about the postmasters. He was so impressed by him and felt he had the potential to be party leader one day. The fact that people are likening what he said to the numerous lies told in parliament by Johnson is totally unfair. I feel that I should watch QT but I ceased doing so when Farage became a standing dish and I don’t feel up to subjecting myself to watching it again. However, I might summon up the courage to do so but the programme riles me so much; memories of the programme being full of rabid Brexit supporters and plants.

I’ve just put this post on the Zusuf thread but, as there’s a Darren Jones thread, I thought I’d post it on here too.

If Darren Jones is hounded because of this, it will be an absolute travesty.

As you say Maybe, he is one of the most decent, intelligent, hardworking, compassionate politicians this country has. We are lucky to have someone of his calibre working for the good of this country.

I’ve observed him in many interviews (because I rate him so highly) and he has always spoken with straightforward openness and integrity. He challenges things that deserve to be challenged; he holds people accountable for their actions (including himself); and he doesn’t suffer fools gladly.

On QT he should have said he was referring to the boat he saw; he’s made that clear. To call him a liar is despicable.

Compared to the shamble of sh** show, performative liars who have gaslighted this country for years (and continue to do so) Darren Jones has more decency and integrity in his little finger than they have in all their bodies combined.

And before anyone says “oo, you’re annoyed about this aren’t you” … yes I am!

Refugee Council:

Afganistan 15%
Syria 11%
Eritrea 11%
Iran 11%
Sudan 8%

www.refugeecouncil.org.uk/stay-informed/explainers/top-facts-from-the-latest-statistics-on-refugees-and-people-seeking-asylum/#:~:text=Between%20April%202024%20and%20Match%202025%2C%20six,compared%20with%20625%20between%20the%20year%20before.

If I was fleeing a worn torn country, I would be sending the women & children to safety first, not leaving them behind to be raped & murdered.
Most of those men will be single, that are arriving on those dinghies. From what I’ve seen on the news it’s young males. We have loads here in our town, all wandering about.
My niece went out with a migrant, told her he was a Spanish catholic. He told lie, after lie.

Silverbrooks

Syrian mostly because their country, after 14 years of war, looks like this.

More than half of Syria's pre-war population of 22 million have had to flee their homes. Some 6.8 million are internally displaced, with more than two million living in tented camps with limited access to basic services. (BBC 2023).

Most are in Turkey and other countries surrounding Syria.
Many would like to go home again one day.
On 9 December 2024 the Home Office paused consideration of all Syrian asylum claims and withdrew the country policy and information notes.

Just google ‘ where do the highest percentage of asylum seekers arriving in small boats to the UK come from, countries of origin’.

Having looked at actual numbers and nationalities, it’s interesting to see that far and away the highest numbers are of Pakistani nationality followed by Vietnamese.
Although they all apply for asylum it’s clear to see that the only real reason to leave those countries and come here is for economic gain.They aren’t fleeing wars.
Darren Jones twisted the truth on tv and later on tried to explain his comments away, but a lot of the watching public maybe believed what he said at the time.
It may not matter a great deal with that subject, but the idea that government ministers can say anything on tv the truth or lies is an important one.

Syrian mostly because their country, after 14 years of war, looks like this.

More than half of Syria's pre-war population of 22 million have had to flee their homes. Some 6.8 million are internally displaced, with more than two million living in tented camps with limited access to basic services. (BBC 2023).

Are there statistics to show from where the asylum seekers come and why young men are particularly persecuted?
I resume there must be information.

Also, why is it wrong if mainly the arrivals are men. If (God forbid) my family had to flee the UK for safe shores, I'm sure we would send the young men first, as they would be more likely to survive a hazardous journey than old people or babies, and also more likely to be able to work when they got to where they were going.

How would you organise things in your family?

I doubt the young men in our family would want to flee and leave their sisters, mothers, elderly parents to their fate.

Whst did our young men do in WW2? They fought both here and overseas.
What happened to many children? They were sent to places of safety here and to a safe country.

Somehow it seems cowardly to run rather than stay and defend those who are not as strong as you.

Oh I think you would know why the so called "song and dance" as regards to more men arriving than women and children. Whilst not tarring all arrivals with the same brush there have been both here and in mainland Europe, incidents of sexual assaults, Cologne for example, acts of terror committed and an over representation into the criminal underworld when previously Albanians were arriving. Quite different from taking families from Afghanistan who we very much owed a duty to grant asylum to, particularly those who had acted as translators etc. for us.

they are housed at great expense in hotels, something no other country does for asylum seekers as far as I’m aware

Oreo other European countries do house asylum seekers in hotels.

However, because it is the most expensive way to house them, most countries are now moving away from this system and using government owned housing instead, wherever possible.

This is what the Labour government is proposing to do - unlike the Tories!

And heaven only knows what Reform would do🤷‍♀️

Personally I find all this ‘song and dance’ about ‘more men arriving than women’ quite offensive.

Whatever their sex, they are all human beings who deserve to be treated with dignity.

The percentage of men arriving is 83% from official figures. Yusuf was almost right at 90%; Jones was plainly wrong.

Most boat refugees are granted asylum. I see no good reason they shouldn't be allowed to work and pay tax while waiting for their claim to be processed. Many of them must have skills and trades we need given our ageing population.

So I don't really mind how anyone views my posts doodledog, I think it would be quite exhausting to think about that too much. I am saying that those on here explaining away Jones behaviour aren't helpful. I would also say that whilst I am sure
labour don't care, this kind of behaviour makes me very uneasy in terms of returning to support them.

yes.

I am not cheering on a lie. I am merely saying that a government minister knows that the majorty of irregular migrant are not women. Everybody does so there had to be reason he said what he did.

He has now said:

Of course the overall majority of people arriving illegally on small boats are men - but not “north of 90%” as Reform claimed. On @bbcquestiontime I shared a story from my visit to the Border Security Command about a dinghy that arrived mostly carrying women, children and babies who had suffered horrific burns.

What he should have said on BBCQT was the majority of people on that boat were women, children and babies who were burnt.

Silverbrooks

This is from Migration Observatory:

migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/people-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats/

The majority of those arriving in small boats are men. In the year to 31 March 2024, 75% (22,357) were male and aged 18 or over (excluding those of unknown age or sex).

Another 16% (4,630) of arrivals in the same period were children (under 18). These proportions have been stable over time, and similar to those observed in asylum applicants more broadly (72% and 19%, respectively, in the year to March 2024).

One reason for the higher share of men among asylum seekers, in general, is the danger associated with irregular migration journeys. In many cases, female and minor family members join later through family reunification routes.

Most people who cross the Channel in small boats claim asylum once they are in the UK. According to the Home Office, 93% (109,954) of all those crossing the Channel from 2018 to March 2024 either applied for asylum themselves or were named as a dependant (partner or child) on an application.

Zia Yusuf claimed on BBCQT that 90% of arrivals are adult males. Where was his evidence?

Absolutely top post Silverbrooks. You give the facts. It is true that Darren Jones I do agree exaggerated the figures, but it's not the end of the world. After all, what it has done is make people discuss it, never a bad thing. Not always wise to shoot the messenger becuase of this.

But of course some will do a "shock horror" on it just to shoot down as whole government. Jones can put out a more accurate statement and acknowledge it. Again, more chance to discuss.

Galaxy

I think telling the truth is more important than compassion. Terrible things have been done under the 'cover' of kindness. The idea of compassion can be a form of dogma.

True. What makes you think you are the only person to see this., though?

I often agree with your posts, but then feel antagonistic towards the way you appear to assume that you can somehow understand things that the rest of us can't.

I don't know why you appear to think you have a more nuanced understanding of how life works than the rest of us, but it often gets in the way of how I read your posts.

Or excuse the lies because 'that is what he saw on the day'
The tactics he used don't work and cause resentment

I don’t see anybody doing that on this thread though, just having a discussion about numbers and perceptions of what they mean?