Yo body can stop it, you can only manage it. It’s a tiny amount of people that need to be processed in-line with recognised international policy.
I get that you want to stop them, but they aren’t the problem. We have given international aid for decades, and even though we’ve made huge cuts in recent times, the cost for people seeking asylum is still borne by this fund.
The problem we have is that the people who have failed the country, syphoning off the money into rich pockets, have set a narrative that it’s the tiny percentage of people who cross on boats is why they’ve fucked the country.
Personally, I want a country that has compassion for people who need to seek refuge, like some of the people who supported myself and colleagues in Iraq and Afghanistan, who we completely let down when we closed all legal routes. And those that have made it here and not been accepted as asylum seekers, treat them with respect, get their claim processed and get them returned as soon as possible.
What we are seeing now is the first phase, from different factions, of alienating asylum seekers, soon to be followed by legal migrants who come here on visas. It won’t be long after before the likes of Robinson’s comments are taken literally and we move to deport all people of colour, because that’s what these people want.
Fortunately, I don’t think the majority of the UK are of the same mindset and our sense of fair play and compassion will not accept this notion.
The question from me is, who do you want to stop? People seeking asylum, or/and those who come here by legal routes to support our workforce needs.