Tragic News

Yesterday’s news that 27 men, women and children died in the English Channel was both tragic but entirely foreseeable. The UK government knew that these crossings were dangerous, but has continued to take no action to ensure that those seeking to reach the UK can do so safely and without the aid of people smugglers. In the absence of safe routes to the UK, desperate people – fleeing persecution, war and poverty – are left with no choice but to take drastic and indeed dangerous measures.
 
The UK government’s response to an increase in channel crossings this year has been to dial up the rhetoric. Priti Patel has made it her mission to stop the boats and reduce so-called pull factors. This shows a striking lack of understanding both of the reasons people flee their home countries and their wishes for coming to the UK.
 
Just one month ago, Patel argued that asylums seekers wanted to come to the UK because they were housed in hotels whilst their claims were processed. This looked foolish at the time, but as 27 lives have been lost, now looks grotesque. Tellingly, the Home Office remain unable to produce any evidence that supports their position that so-called “pull factors” incentivize asylum seekers to come to the UK.
 
Patel’s response to yesterday’s tragedy has been equally disappointing. Whilst of course paying lip service to how awful it was, there was no hint of contrition on her part or of the government more broadly. Of greater concern, there was also no suggestion that the government will review its policies and create safe passages for asylum seekers to arrive in the UK. As the government’s Nationality and Borders Bill meanders through parliament, the reality is that smugglers will instead be further emboldened and the situation will become worse for the small number of people who want to seek asylum in the UK.
 
The government continues to look at ever more expensive options in its efforts to stop the boats, none of which are likely to be successful despite coming at huge tax-payer expense. Instead of paying France to prevent Channel crossings or proposing to offshore asylum processing centres ever further afield, the government should instead re-evaluate why people face no choice but to attempt to reach the UK by dinghy.
 
Three simple solutions are:

1. Tone down the rhetoric and hyperbole about the number of boat arrivals and acknowledge that: a) the UK hosts a tiny number of refugees compared to other far poorer countries; b) the number of people seeking asylum in the UK has in fact fallen since 2019; and c) the UK is and always has been capable of absorbing the tiny number of people arriving by boat, even accounting for the modest increase in crossings in 2021.
2. Create safe routes to enter the UK to claim asylum. For those who wish to claim asylum here because of family ties or other connections – which evidence shows are by far the most common reasons people seek to come to the UK, not the quality of our hotels – a visa should be introduced that enables them to apply to enter the country and have their asylum claim processed.
3. Acknowledge publicly that smuggling networks thrive because there are no safe and legal routes to enter the UK. Creating such routes will not only see people not embarking on dangerous journeys but will also undermine the criminal networks who profit from human suffering and desperation.

So far, Priti Patel has shown herself unwilling or unable to take measured, practical steps to protect lives. Assuming yesterday’s events, and the loss of 27 innocent lives, does not see her and her department reverse its current positions then further loss of life is inevitable.
 
RAMFEL therefore calls on the Home Secretary to resign if she is unwilling to take action to prevent the English Channel becoming a graveyard for those seeking sanctuary in the UK.