Is not a part of the answer your statement "But nor did they do much to defend immigration, or explain its benefits in terms of the economy and public services"?
One could add cultural enrichment, the sheer wrongness of judging people by skin colour, and in the case of asylum seekers the duty to help the suffering (for the Christian nationalists one could call it a Christian duty).
For EU freedom of movement and the possible UK/EU youth mobility scheme people should be reminded that migration works in both directions. Brexit was after all a huge loss of rights for British citizens.
There is also the question why in a rich country with a decent education system the anti-immigration lobby wishes the bad jobs to be done by Britons rather than poorly-educated foreigners for whom they would be a step up. And given an ageing society what is the trade-off from lower immigration for pensions, taxes and retirement age?
Starmer's "Island of Strangers" comment supported Reform's line. It was also dangerous for anyone in this country with foreign looks or name, even if British. Kemi Badenoch's complaints about receiving racist slurs should lead her to think about her party which is doing so much to stoke nationalism which in many people's minds means white nationalism.
But a sustained defence of immigration and anti-racism from the government and other parties that goes beyond the Home Secretary's luke-warm reasoning which you report might help peel some support from Reform. At least it would raise the tone of the debate.
The problem of the small boats full of illegal immigrants could be solved by direct intervention. Currently our brave, indefatigable Border Force meet these frail craft and take on board all the occupants, presumably including the man on the tiller who must be part of the gang who run the system, charging each traveler over £1000 for the trip. There is experience of a similar operation out of Vietnam after the communist takeover in 1975. Many people simply took to boats and relied on ships to rescue them at sea. However, some of the “Boat People “ were also plagued by pirates who kidnapped their women and killed the men. The problem was only solved by the refugees being incarcerated, mainly in Hong Kong, until they agreed to return to Vietnam. In the English Channel, divided between Britain and France the illegal immigrant boats could be boarded by SAS type British soldiers, from Border Force boat, armed and in pairs, who would take control of the vessel and sail it back to France. The boarding would have to be in British waters so that no French laws were violated. Once in shallow waters off the coast of France the occupants of the boat would be disembarked and the vessel sailed back towards the Border Force ship which the two soldiers would join and tow the captured vessel back to Britain for disposal. I appreciate many would object to this suggestion but this problem must be solved and no one else, including you, Jack, seem to have any suggestions. I used to do the “booze cruise “ before it was stopped. We had to examine our vehicles anytime after we had parked them to have lunch or for any other reason. The Customs Officers on the Ferry also examined our vehicles to prevent illegal immigration. Drastic action is required and if not implemented Farage may be our next Prime Minister.
Is not a part of the answer your statement "But nor did they do much to defend immigration, or explain its benefits in terms of the economy and public services"?
One could add cultural enrichment, the sheer wrongness of judging people by skin colour, and in the case of asylum seekers the duty to help the suffering (for the Christian nationalists one could call it a Christian duty).
For EU freedom of movement and the possible UK/EU youth mobility scheme people should be reminded that migration works in both directions. Brexit was after all a huge loss of rights for British citizens.
There is also the question why in a rich country with a decent education system the anti-immigration lobby wishes the bad jobs to be done by Britons rather than poorly-educated foreigners for whom they would be a step up. And given an ageing society what is the trade-off from lower immigration for pensions, taxes and retirement age?
Starmer's "Island of Strangers" comment supported Reform's line. It was also dangerous for anyone in this country with foreign looks or name, even if British. Kemi Badenoch's complaints about receiving racist slurs should lead her to think about her party which is doing so much to stoke nationalism which in many people's minds means white nationalism.
But a sustained defence of immigration and anti-racism from the government and other parties that goes beyond the Home Secretary's luke-warm reasoning which you report might help peel some support from Reform. At least it would raise the tone of the debate.
The problem of the small boats full of illegal immigrants could be solved by direct intervention. Currently our brave, indefatigable Border Force meet these frail craft and take on board all the occupants, presumably including the man on the tiller who must be part of the gang who run the system, charging each traveler over £1000 for the trip. There is experience of a similar operation out of Vietnam after the communist takeover in 1975. Many people simply took to boats and relied on ships to rescue them at sea. However, some of the “Boat People “ were also plagued by pirates who kidnapped their women and killed the men. The problem was only solved by the refugees being incarcerated, mainly in Hong Kong, until they agreed to return to Vietnam. In the English Channel, divided between Britain and France the illegal immigrant boats could be boarded by SAS type British soldiers, from Border Force boat, armed and in pairs, who would take control of the vessel and sail it back to France. The boarding would have to be in British waters so that no French laws were violated. Once in shallow waters off the coast of France the occupants of the boat would be disembarked and the vessel sailed back towards the Border Force ship which the two soldiers would join and tow the captured vessel back to Britain for disposal. I appreciate many would object to this suggestion but this problem must be solved and no one else, including you, Jack, seem to have any suggestions. I used to do the “booze cruise “ before it was stopped. We had to examine our vehicles anytime after we had parked them to have lunch or for any other reason. The Customs Officers on the Ferry also examined our vehicles to prevent illegal immigration. Drastic action is required and if not implemented Farage may be our next Prime Minister.