Could we ask all the Europen countries that these people have passed through how they managed to get to Calais without anybody stopping them?
Its the problem with Schengen mate. There's barely any border checks and in some places no border at all - you can just walk across.
But what if they are just coming for the hand-outs?Its an offence under the UN Refugee Convention to hinder (or punish) the safe passage of an asylum seeker (Article 31.1 IIRC) ...... This is why the French Police are struggling with the rules for puncturing the boats
But what if they are just coming for the hand-outs?
Good point! Although I wonder if that is completely accurate? I can quite believe we are relatively ungenerous, but are we really the worst?Lowest welfare payments , sickness benefits and state pensions in Europe .... if they wanted handouts they could stop and claim asylum anywhere before the UK and be better off.
Yes, I'd support that as well.I would definitely go down the ID card route. Given the size of the UK black market economy these days, I suspect there is likely to be a bigger public uptake on the idea. Especially if it is brought in with a combined approach of crackling down on on illegal working.
Of course the ideal answer is neither. But there was no neither option.Neither, obviously. That you think they are the choices is a good example of the way we seemingly think about the issue and politics in general too as a society nowadays.
Everything’s going increasingly binary, which ironically is simultaneously having the effect of killing the two party system we’ve had for so long.
??? What a bizarre post.its projected to cost £32bn and Farage hasn't said how he would fund it- He couldn't do it out of general taxation because it reduces the amount of tax paid. Fancy another Iceberg moment do you?
Quite possibly the defining issue. If somehow Labour have managed to fix the issue, they may even get back in again. I think it could well be that important in terms of GE result.I think we can all agree that these illegal crossings will be a very big issue at the next general election.
What happens to those over £50k-do you really suggest it should be limited to £1000 extra?This got me thinking :
How would people on here feel about a £20k personal allowance and 25p basic income tax rate?
No-one earning less than £20k pays any tax at all.
Anyone earning under £30k takes home more than they do now.
Anyone earning over £30k pays a bit more. Only a tiny bit more obvs if you are earning say £35k. And the maximum extra anyone would have to pay is £1,000. And that's for someone on £50k a year.
I'd say that was pretty fair myself and I would vote for it. I would have to pay the £1k btw.
What do YOU think?
??? What a bizarre post.
"He couldn't do it out of general taxation because it reduces the amount of tax paid"???
I think perhaps you had a brain fart? Changing the basic rate from 20p to 25p would pay for Farage's commitment easily.
What iceberg?
Yes, because the 20p band finishes at incomes of circa £50k.What happens to those over £50k-is it really limited to £1000 extra?
You clearly haven't read nor understood the whole proposal from Farage - look at what his proposals for the top rate are - cutting tax receipts by billions for his mates hence the tax take would be massively down
To be fair, no, I haven't. I don't think his £20k personal allowance pledge is affordable without a hike in rates. But it's complex - putting more money in peoples' pockets mean they spend more and you get some back in increased VAT and stimulus to the economy generally - higher corporation tax etc. It would have to be carefully modelled - unlike my earlier ham-fisted attempt, LOL ;-)You clearly haven't read nor understood the whole proposal from Farage - look at what his proposals for the top rate are - cutting tax receipts by billions for his mates hence the tax take would be massively down
Truss
Probably why Labour actually said very little in their manifesto. They knew they would win anyway, so why make crazy promises they knew they would probably not be able to stick to.I suspect Farage and co are doing what most if not all politicians do when not in power. Promise the earth without any detail.
This is very similar if not the same as what Labour did before the last GE , I fact all political parties do it.
Then if and when they get in they conveniently forget many of their promises and do something different, like put up taxes, squeeze the welfare budget, scrap the winter fuel allowance for example.
Nothing changes with politicians im affraid they are all cut from very similar cloth when it comes to not being honest with the electorate.
There is also the small issue that all new Governments struggle with, it's much easier to be in opposition than to be in power.
You have to take everything they say in opposition with a pinch of salt.
Of course the ideal answer is neither. But there was no neither option.
I posed the question because I think - unfortunately - it is the reality. Clearly (a) is not ideal, but equally clearly (b) is worse.
Even more unfortunately, there are those in the Labour Party who would prefer (b), fuelled by a deep resentment of people who are very rich. For example, preferring to take £300 WFA off someone on £11k a year than having to also give it to someone on £1m a year.
It's strange how these socialist tendencies don't seem to get much traction amongst football supporters when it comes to players' wages. I don't hear many saying "Couldn't we pay Haaland a bit less so we could pay the tea lady more".
As both major parties do and have done to probably a lesser degree in the past.I suspect Farage and co are doing what most if not all politicians do when not in power. Promise the earth without any detail.
This is very similar if not the same as what Labour did before the last GE , infact all political parties do it.
Then if and when they get in, they conveniently forget many of their promises and do something different, like put up taxes, squeeze the welfare budget and scrap the winter fuel allowance ?
Nothing changes with politicians im affraid, they are all cut from very similar cloth when it comes to not being honest with the electorate.
There is also the small issue that all new Governments struggle with, it's much easier to be in opposition than to be in power.
You have to take everything they say in opposition with a pinch of salt.
Is that a benefit? I'm not so sure.As both major parties do and have done to probably a lesser degree in the past.
There was a commentator that said the other day... The reason politicians struggle today as opposed to in the past is that whilst they've always been unpopular disliked but today, the volume of dislike and mistrust, courtesy of social media, is much louder and much more clear. Whereas in the past it was much easier to ignore, today it is not.
One of the few benefits of social media I guess?
The fact that politicians can be exposed and called out is for me beneficial, else they keep on lying and burying bad news which cannot be good - can it?Is that a benefit? I'm not so sure.
Is that a benefit? I'm not so sure.