Opportunism is not the same thing as Patriotism: people have a right to be angry & politicians have a job to ease that anger…..

When an elected member of parliament says: “people are angry”. The next question to that member of parliament should be: “what are you doing to help reduce their anger?”

All across the country people are expressing anger at the increasing number of migrants crossing the English Channel on rubber boats and getting into the country. It is very clear that the situation is unacceptable. It disrespects due process.

Setting aside the rights or wrongs of that debate, it should never be a situation that politicians should look to profit from. There must be situations such as pandemics, where we set politics aside to find a solution, for the greater good? This is definitely one such situation. It should be off limits to try to exploit it for political gain! It is a situation that has become so volatile. A situation that has led to countless riots. It cannot, surely, be a political football!!

The whole country should come together to find a solution.

But more importantly, our elected politicians should work together, to find a solution.

If they (politicians) say that they recognise that this matter is of uttermost importance to the people, then it shouldn’t be used for political gain as it has been, over the last 15 years, under various guises and by various politicians and others who have continued to fan the flames for political & other gains

The incumbent government should reach out to all political parties and set up a round table to solve the problem together. For the greater good.

Do we consider Rwandans at all? When we speak about dumping migrants in Rwanda. We must do better than that! Is it right to dump our unwanted on Rwandans? Just because we can pay the government of Rwanda to take them? In any case, it won’t stop the migrants coming, as they will assume that getting here to be removed to Rwanda is still a step towards getting here. But more importantly, many of them have thrown everything into getting here, they do not see any alternative and will continue on that path, even if it lands them in Rwanda, they will keep coming. What is needed, is a solution that fully disincentivises coming here via the English Channel or via any other channel that bypasses due process. That due process isn’t new. It’s always been there. You don’t just up and head off to a country without asking for, and being granted permission to enter!! It is inexcusable

We were able to build hospitals speedily during Covid, so, we can do it; we can build hundreds of temporary accommodation in disused airfields, stadiums etc., and include police stations etc., to house anyone who comes across the English Channel or any other route that bypasses due process due process, making it clear that such entry means automatic rejection of a later application and their processing will be to remove them as soon as possible, except in extenuating circumstances

For politicians to stand in front of protesters and say: “people are angry”, is shameful. Your job – politician – is to turn around to those angry people and offer them ideas, suggestions, and de-escalate! It doesn’t matter if you are in opposition or in government; we must calm people down. Find solutions. Work with the government to implement solutions. Fanning the flame and using this very grave, very serious matter (lest we forget, people protesting believe this is a major issue) to score political points and to build up a party or try to become Prime Minister, is a sad reflection of where society is today! Nobody out there is actually trying to help society. They all just have to have their own way!

We are heading for awful times, if we don’t change our approach to this. We need politicians to work together to solve this problem instead of fanning the flame! The Labour government must challenge the other parties to come & work with them, to solve this problem for the greater good! There is nothing to be gained by turning this into a political football. We can do without the rioting, endless protesting, and unending stream of rubber boats crossing the channel!