45,756

[Gromit]

Illegal immigrants crossed the channel in 2022.
Johnson, Truss and Sunak Governments were at best impotent, and at worst incompetent to do anything about it.
We must demand better in 2023. Action, not passing the buck.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/jan/01/total-of-45756-people-crossed-channel-to-uk-in-small-boats-in-2022

[douglas9401]

They might at least have published the figures at 45678, even if only for a laugh.

[Gromit]

In 2018 when Amber Rudd was in charge we had close to 123 crossings in that year :-)

[Rosetta]

So what is the answer? One suggestion is to welcome all, which denies the fact that our infrastructure is not eternally elastic.

[naomi24]

Good question, Rosetta. Practical suggestions seem to be shot down in flames by the bleeding hearts.

[johnk]

If we give them the same benefits as France does we wouldn't be so attractive. That might not be welcomed by the ''bleeding hearts'' but it would get my vote.

[bobbinwales]

Do you believe the 2018 figure gromit?
It's up your the goverment to sort it so keir don't have to have answers yet... but he will when his PM in 2024. My guess is we'll offer free ferry services or flights to maybe 200000 a year and reclassify them so dinghy crossing numbers will fall close to zero then .

[ToraToraTora]

What do you suggest gromit? You knock any attempts to address the issue then moan about it almost as much as Hymie moans about Brexit. What would YOU do?

[douglas9401]

It's not up to Gromit or any other member of the public to come up with ideas, Tora, that's the job of your mates in Westminster.

The Rwanda thing was at least an idea, albeit expensive and unworkable, but it's their gig and they need to come up with something instead of just marking time for the pension.

Is it something that pops up at meetings of Mensans I wonder?

[ToraToraTora]

doug: "It's not up to Gromit or any other member of the public to come up with ideas, Tora, that's the job of your mates in Westminster. " - it is when they poo poo everything they come up with in Westminster. Gromit is like one of those brats in a supermarket that no matter what his mum offers he doesn't want it but he wants something.

[gulliver1]

Brexit caused the channel immigrant crossing. Because they can't sneak into the back of UK bound lorries any longer There ain't any lorries coming into the Uk from the EU , thanks to Brexit. and that' a double whammy.

[ToraToraTora]

Perhaps we should introduce a scheme, we'll swap 1 5Cer for an immigrant, at least they want to be here.

[douglas9401]

You see? Ideas do come if one applies oneself.

[bobbinwales]

Ah .... so mumbers haven't increased gulliver....its just we could count them before as we never found them.
Keir will need ideas /answers for his manifesto and when he is pm

[bobbinwales]

^ ...we COULD'NT count them before...

[naomi24]

//There ain't any lorries coming into the Uk from the EU//

Is there any point in telling you not to talk rubbish, Gulliver?

[Deskdiary]

"...There ain't any lorries coming into the Uk from the EU..."

That is simply a bare-faced lie.

I'm on the M25, M26, M2 and M20 a fair bit, and there's absolutely loads of lorries from the EU and, I strongly suspect, just as many post-Brexit as there were pre-Brexit.

What is achieved by telling a lie that is so easily disproved? I just don't get the mentality.

[douglas9401]

Gulliver may be a professional politician, Deskdiary.

[THECORBYLOON]

"we'll swap 1 5Cer for an immigrant"

Since you're asking other folk what should be done, how would you, TORATORATORA, define and then identify a so-called, "5Cer"?

[rowanwitch]

Trouble is without cooperation with countries further back in the chain we are really tied. We can't return them because many have no papers and the countries they passed through won't take them back. If they did they would just try again., we can't sink them in the channel,although I have heard it suggested . The Rwanda idea is not going to work,

The answer has to be making the UK a far less desirable option. I do wonder if barrack' s type camps, with basic food and compulsory English lessons and proper assessment of their skills and capabilities. No freedom until they have claims processed and only subsistence vouchers not benefits once they are deemed to have refugee status would please the masses . It would however give The human rights lawyers a field day.

The truth is we do need workers in some areas, farming etc. If we could utilise some of the arrivals in areas where they are needed it would be useful. but I have a feeling many are coming here because they don't want to work long hours for low wages in agriculture.

[vulcan42]

\\ Gulliver may be a professional politician, Deskdiary.//
No, he's an accepted troll.