Immigration

[Mr Poppy]

Place for constructive discussion of what is a very sensitive subject.

I won't copy over the discussion from the main thread* but note that it is not just UK that is looking to change the law:

"French government drafts second immigration bill under Macron's presidency
The focus will be on 'facilitating deportation and simplifying dispute procedures,'"

www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2022/07/30/french-government-drafts-second-immigration-bill-under-macron-s-presidency_5991995_5.html

FWIU then they have recently delayed that Bill and yes, I'm aware that Braverman intends to go further than the French currently wish to go WRT to changing the law.

* I might add the polling links later. 

[Deleted]

Oct 30, 2022 13:50:15 GMT Mr Poppy said:

Place for constructive discussion of what is a very sensitive subject.

I won't copy over the discussion from the main thread* but note that it is not just UK that is looking to change the law:

"French government drafts second immigration bill under Macron's presidency
The focus will be on 'facilitating deportation and simplifying dispute procedures,'"

www.lemonde.fr/en/politics/article/2022/07/30/french-government-drafts-second-immigration-bill-under-macron-s-presidency_5991995_5.html

FWIU then they have recently delayed that Bill and yes, I'm aware that Braverman intends to go further than the French currently wish to go WRT to changing the law.

* I might add the polling links later. 

You would think, to read these pages, that the Iranians, Sudanese, Afghans Iraqis and Vietnamese * queuing up in Northern France for a dinghy trip to Dover had appeared as if by magic , unrelated to anything happening between UK and their countries.

The French initiative you mention is but one more of Europe's desperate catalogue of plans and schemes to stem the tide of illegal/undocumented migration at its Southern borders:-

ecre.org/eu-southern-borders-spain-and-eu-funding-for-morocco-amid-crack-down-on-migrants-iom-reports-thousands-of-deaths-on-the-atlantic-and-mediterranean-as-tragedies-continue-italy-funds-the-so-called-li/

www.euronews.com/2022/06/27/greece-prevents-1130-migrants-crossing-aegean-sea-from-turkey

www.dw.com/en/opinion-an-aegean-tug-of-refugees/a-63480269



* 70% of Cross Chanel Migrants in 2021 from these 5 countries

[Mr Poppy]

colin Thank you for conducting some research and posting some of that research on the issue. We don't yet know exactly what Braverman has in mind but since the Guardian is 'popular' for a lot of UKPR2 and doesn't have a paywall then.. 

The home secretary is reportedly drawing up a bill designed to create a “blanket ban” on anyone who enters the UK illegally, including by small boats, from claiming refuge(e status in UK, with their application to be processed to in UK*).

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/oct/05/suella-braverman-asylum-plan-may-breach-refugee-convention-unhcr

The issue of "non-refoulement" will be where processing in a 3rd country comes in. The policy will certainly upset the UNHCR and it is likely we will bend the rules within certain international conventions, possibly to the point at which we have to leave them. Given a lot of countries are 'bending' the rules/law in order to find a solution to the immigration crisis then perhaps a better outcome would be for signatories to 'update' the rules/law to the modern realities - although if we have to act alone then, IMO, we should (as should France, Spain, Italy, etc) 

* context added.

[Deleted]

Oct 30, 2022 14:22:37 GMT Mr Poppy said:

colin Thank you for conducting some research and posting some of that research on the issue. We don't yet know exactly what Braverman has in mind but since the Guardian is 'popular' for a lot of UKPR2 and doesn't have a paywall then.. 

The home secretary is reportedly drawing up a bill designed to create a “blanket ban” on anyone who enters the UK illegally, including by small boats, from claiming refuge(e status in UK, with their application to be processed to in UK*).

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/oct/05/suella-braverman-asylum-plan-may-breach-refugee-convention-unhcr

The issue of "non-refoulement" will be where processing in a 3rd country comes in. The policy will certainly upset the UNHCR and it is likely we will bend the rules within certain international conventions, possibly to the point at which we have to leave them. Given a lot of countries are 'bending' the rules/law in order to find a solution to the immigration crisis then perhaps a better outcome would be for signatories to 'update' the rules/law to the modern realities - although if we have to act alone then, IMO, we should (as should France, Spain, Italy, etc) 

* context added.

"“The common European foreign policy at the border is pushbacks.”


www.politico.eu/article/migration-crisis-ursula-von-der-leyens-european-commission-brussels/

I dont know what the answer is. It is a global problem.

The only predictable is that whatever UK does will be singled out on UKPR2

[Mr Poppy]

colin That Politico piece was very useful, thank you. I admit to not following everything that is going on with our near neighbours. The Danish example shows a 'proactive' approach can be very successful, even it ruffles a few feathers:

ec.europa.eu/migrant-integration/news/denmark-lowest-number-asylum-seekers-ever_en

[Mr Poppy]

Another link worth posting on the Issue specific thread (for neilj , alurqa and anyone else interested):

Permission to work and volunteering for asylum seekers

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1114501/Permission_to_work_and_volunteer.pdf

The system is collapsing under the weight of the huge numbers of claims. It shouldn't take 12mths to make a decision on any claim and if the system had much lower numbers to process then it wouldn't take 12mths to process an individual's claim (something we could maybe learn from Denmark and others who have drastically dropped their numbers recently)

However, for my n=1 then I'd prefer to see them working and contributing to society much sooner. It doesn't seem right to have them do nothing and be supported by taxpayer money while their application is processed - perhaps something we can agree on?  

[Mr Poppy]

Some of the links for the LEGAL immigration routes:

Points based system: www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-points-based-immigration-system-employer-information/the-uks-points-based-immigration-system-an-introduction-for-employers

Hong Kong British National (Overseas) route: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1072632/Hong_Kong_British_National__Overseas__route.pdf

Ukraine schemes: www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-information-for-ukrainians-in-the-uk-british-nationals-and-their-family-members/immigration-information-for-ukrainians-in-the-uk-british-nationals-and-their-family-members

Afghan citizens resettlement scheme: www.gov.uk/guidance/afghan-citizens-resettlement-scheme

[Mr Poppy]

Having focussed entirely on immigration with all 6 of his questions yesterday then, along with the media, the Immigration issue is likely to become more important.

Rishi is to review all his Summer pledges but I don't see anything he should change in this one - just get on with it!

RISHI SUNAK UNVEILS PLAN TO TAKE BACK CONTROL OF OUR BORDERS (24/7/22)

www.ready4rishi.com/immigration_plan

[Mr Poppy]

Rishi working on point #6 in his plan (with the rhetoric dialled down) and hopefully a broader Entente Cordiale with our near neighbour? 'Words are wind' of course but, given both countries have much to gain from doing a lot more to break the criminal gangs using 'small boats' for human trafficking and a more constructive partnership on other issues then it is a 'win-win'

Most press picking up the story so pick your preference but I'll provide a non-paywalled link

Channel crossings deal with France in final stages

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63540385

Times (paywall) has a photo for the early blossom of a “beautiful bromance” between Rishi and Emmanuel Macron (not quite into 'first name' category yet but he can certainly get there   ). French source covering what they have in common and I'd argue that Darmanin and Braverman have a very similar view to each other on immigration.

www.france24.com/en/europe/20221026-britain-s-new-pm-rishi-sunak-raises-hopes-for-improved-france-uk-relations

We left the EU, we did not leave Europe. 

[Deleted]

Nov 8, 2022 9:25:23 GMT Mr Poppy said:

Rishi working on point #6 in his plan (with the rhetoric dialled down) and hopefully a broader Entente Cordiale with our near neighbour? 'Words are wind' of course but, given both countries have much to gain from doing a lot more to break the criminal gangs using 'small boats' for human trafficking and a more constructive partnership on other issues then it is a 'win-win'

Most press picking up the story so pick your preference but I'll provide a non-paywalled link

Channel crossings deal with France in final stages

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-63540385

Times (paywall) has a photo for the early blossom of a “beautiful bromance” between Rishi and Emmanuel Macron (not quite into 'first name' category yet but he can certainly get there   ). French source covering what they have in common and I'd argue that Darmanin and Braverman have a very similar view to each other on immigration.

www.france24.com/en/europe/20221026-britain-s-new-pm-rishi-sunak-raises-hopes-for-improved-france-uk-relations

We left the EU, we did not leave Europe. 

Rothschild & Cie Banque  meets Goldman Sachs .

[Mr Poppy]

New polling from YG

As Channel crossings rise, where do Britons stand on asylum seekers?

Of note: Those crossing the Channel are particularly unpopular with Britons when compared to other migrants

and a very partisan view on: whether asylum seekers really need to come to the UK at all (and) are genuinely at risk in their home countries

yougov.co.uk/topics/politics/articles-reports/2022/11/09/channel-crossings-rise-where-do-britons-stand-asyl

[Mr Poppy]

A great example of mutually beneficial, cross border cooperation to stamp out the criminal gangs:

Suspected people smugglers arrested in London raid on behalf of Belgian authorities

www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/london-people-smugglers-police-raid-small-boats-b1038726.html

[Mr Poppy]

Positive news but just one piece of the puzzle (as discussed before and accepted by UK HMG et al). The far bigger issues is tackling the 'pull' factors where UK is seen as a soft final destination by the criminal gangs involved in human trafficking

UK and France set to strike deal to stop migrants crossing Channel

www.euronews.com/2022/11/12/uk-and-france-set-to-strike-deal-to-stop-migrants-crossing-channel-next-week-say-british-m

I'll also post a piece on the illegal immigration route across the Med. As DW say*: "The true disgrace of the EU's migration policy is that it hasn't managed to make the dangerous passage across the Mediterranean obsolete"

As discussed before then that shows that the UK-France deal is only go to have limited effect on its own. The piece also covers why: "so-called Dublin Regulation doesn't work in practice; it never really did" (something obvious a long time ago and hence the 'deja vu' all over again)

www.dw.com/en/opinion-italy-eu-migration-spat-is-a-case-of-deja-vu/a-63741579

[Deleted]

Nov 14, 2022 7:42:26 GMT Mr Poppy said:

 "so-called Dublin Regulation doesn't work in practice; it never really did"

www.dw.com/en/opinion-italy-eu-migration-spat-is-a-case-of-deja-vu/a-63741579

The French are trying to enforce it at the point of a gun down south.

EU solidarity. 

abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/french-border-checks-force-italys-migrant-policy-93218508

Dont read much about the EU approach on UKPR2 do we ?:-


www.statewatch.org/news/2022/june/death-at-the-french-italian-border-raises-multiple-concerns-says-new-report/

[Deleted]

"No end in sight" on the EU/N African front:-

storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/07502a24ce0646bb9703ce96630b15fa


No search for hotels on the EU/Turkish front :-

www.infomigrants.net/en/post/42759/greece-stops-large-number-of-migrant-crossings-at-evros-border

www.hrw.org/news/2022/10/24/turkey-hundreds-refugees-deported-syria#:~:text=(Istanbul)%20%E2%80%93%20Turkish%20authorities%20arbitrarily,Human%20Rights%20Watch%20said%20today.

[Mr Poppy]

Nov 14, 2022 13:29:51 GMT colin said:

"No end in sight" on the EU/N African front:-

storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/07502a24ce0646bb9703ce96630b15fa


No search for hotels on the EU/Turkish front :-

www.infomigrants.net/en/post/42759/greece-stops-large-number-of-migrant-crossings-at-evros-border

www.hrw.org/news/2022/10/24/turkey-hundreds-refugees-deported-syria#:~:text=(Istanbul)%20%E2%80%93%20Turkish%20authorities%20arbitrarily,Human%20Rights%20Watch%20said%20today.

From one of the links: "government announced it would extend the border fence between the two countries"

Where are the howls of outrage?? As I expect you know then a huge amount of border fencing has gone up within EU and on EU borders since 2015

www.statista.com/chart/26087/europes-border-fences/

and it hasn't gone totally unnoticed in the EU friendly press:
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/eu-border-wall-berlin-migration-human-rights-immigration-borders-a8624706.html

Seems like a very good idea to me but strange that when Trump wanted to do similar on US border there were howls of outrage but Biden is quietly able to get on with Trump's unfinished project:
www.economist.com/united-states/2022/10/04/the-biden-administration-is-quietly-completing-bits-of-donald-trumps-wall

[Deleted]

Nov 14, 2022 15:33:24 GMT Mr Poppy said:

Nov 14, 2022 13:29:51 GMT colin said:

"No end in sight" on the EU/N African front:-

storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/07502a24ce0646bb9703ce96630b15fa


No search for hotels on the EU/Turkish front :-

www.infomigrants.net/en/post/42759/greece-stops-large-number-of-migrant-crossings-at-evros-border

www.hrw.org/news/2022/10/24/turkey-hundreds-refugees-deported-syria#:~:text=(Istanbul)%20%E2%80%93%20Turkish%20authorities%20arbitrarily,Human%20Rights%20Watch%20said%20today.

Where are the howls of outrage?? 

On here ?. No chance.

The partiality & hypocrisy is palpable.

This is a massive problem for Europe. Actually we are just getting the backwash. The Let Them All Come brigade should try persuading the Greeks or Italians.

..or the French who , having taken the boat which Italy refused immediately strengthened border control with Italy !

[Mr Poppy]

Nov 14, 2022 15:58:05 GMT colin said:

Nov 14, 2022 15:33:24 GMT Mr Poppy said:

Where are the howls of outrage?? 

On here ?. No chance.

The partiality & hypocrisy is palpable.

This is a massive problem for Europe. Actually we are just getting the backwash. The Let Them All Come brigade should try persuading the Greeks or Italians.

..or the French who , having taken the boat which Italy refused immediately strengthened border control with Italy !

There is certainly "gravity" (and supply chain delay issues) in the problem. Hence countries closest to Europe's external borders are seeing a much bigger problem. Away from the external borders then Denmark has been 'pre-emptive', possibly seeing what happened in Swedish politics. Germany still has close to a 'let them all come' approach and I note AfD are on the rise again in Germany 

One thing I've noticed is a similarity between those with an 'open door' view (all immigrants are equal) to those with very anti-immigration views (all immigrants are equal). As per YG and other polling, then most folks have a far more nuanced view.

[Deleted]

Nov 14, 2022 16:16:48 GMT Mr Poppy said:

Nov 14, 2022 15:58:05 GMT colin said:

On here ?. No chance.

The partiality & hypocrisy is palpable.

This is a massive problem for Europe. Actually we are just getting the backwash. The Let Them All Come brigade should try persuading the Greeks or Italians.

..or the French who , having taken the boat which Italy refused immediately strengthened border control with Italy !

There is certainly "gravity" (and supply chain delay issues) in the problem. Hence countries closest to Europe's external borders are seeing a much bigger problem. Away from the external borders then Denmark has been 'pre-emptive', possibly seeing what happened in Swedish politics. Germany still has close to a 'let them all come' approach and I note AfD are on the rise again in Germany 

One thing I've noticed is a similarity between those with an 'open door' view (all immigrants are equal) to those with very anti-immigration views (all immigrants are equal). As per YG and other polling, then most folks have a far more nuanced view.

Have you read about the Swiss "transit" facility ?!

www.infomigrants.net/en/post/44386/switzerland-accused-of-helping-migrants-reach-other-european-countries

I think Germany may be having second thought :-

www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/2022/11/11/germany-extends-border-checks-as-illegal-migration-rises/

[Mr Poppy]

Nov 14, 2022 16:29:29 GMT colin said:

Nov 14, 2022 16:16:48 GMT Mr Poppy said:

Have you read about the Swiss "transit" facility ?!

www.infomigrants.net/en/post/44386/switzerland-accused-of-helping-migrants-reach-other-european-countries

I think Germany may be having second thought :-

www.thenationalnews.com/world/europe/2022/11/11/germany-extends-border-checks-as-illegal-migration-rises/

I can't blame the Swiss given they are not a 'first country' and are not a 'destination country'. Germany will have to look at increasing checks on that border as well I suppose given German govt might have started to notice the German polling?

A better coordinated approach would be to:
a/ secure the external borders to Schengen* and I'd be OK if UK paid a bit towards that
b/ agree a collective change/clarification to international law WRT to 'irregular' (EU's more polite word for 'illegal') and again I'd be OK if UK agreed to that (or we all continue to do our own thing, with UK implementing something closer to the Danish approach)
c/ I wonder how many of them might find the idea of using 'safe' 3rd countries a good idea for processing asylum seekers? Braverman needs to get on with it. Once UK leads then I reckon we'll see others follow that approach and that might lead back to b/

* Thankfully we never joined that but it is so full of 'exemptions' that it's become a bit of a joke (it's been on/off between France and Italy so many times I've lost count). 'Irregulars' are not going to use a small boat to get to RoI then another one to get into GB so CTA is OK for GB+Eire but for our neighbours on the continent then they need to protect their collective external border or effectively scrap Schengen and put up more internal borders.

[Mr Poppy]

Small boat Channel crossings: Mayor of Calais says UK is too appealing to asylum seekers... the lack of identity cards allows migrants a freedom they would not enjoy in many European nations

news.sky.com/story/small-boat-channel-crossings-mayor-of-calais-says-uk-is-too-appealing-to-asylum-seekers-12747644

Yet: Citing “the civil liberties aspect of ID cards”...Rishi Sunak rules out identity cards to control migration
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/rishi-sunak-rules-out-identity-cards-to-control-migration-lgkfgd5cj

Sorry Rishi, but that kind of libertarian nonsense is bad for the country (and bad for your party). It will be a #nobrainer for Starmer to reboot NewLABv1 plan to introduce ID cards (with some modern day enhancements) and show that LAB has a 'better' plan to tackle illegal immigration and intends to do something about it. Worse, the extreme views of parties on the Far-Right will become more 'popular' in UK. RUK have found a 'raison d'être' and if Sir Keir is nobbled by libertarian MPs (as Blair was) then, exactly as we've seen in continental Europe, those extreme anti-all-immigration parties will become more popular in UK and if we ever did have a more PR based voting system... 

[Mr Poppy]

I'm glad to see: UK and India announce visa deal
www.politico.eu/article/rishi-sunak-uk-and-narendra-modi-india-announce-visa-deal/

but Rishi needs to deal with the 'illegal' issue and it would be a #nobrainer to introduce ID cards to help deal with any 'legal/temporary' immigrants who become 'illegal' when stay past the expiration date of their visa.

Also, whilst it will seem 'mercantile', then it's not very clear what Rishi is getting back in return. I'm OK with UK making the first move on fixing the damage Braverman made with her comments and note Rishi has stated “I wouldn't sacrifice quality for speed. And that goes for all trade deals. It's important that we get them right, rather than rush them and so that's the approach I'll take.”

So hopefully I just need to be patient on a broader trade deal (and I don't mind if it comes in phases, so next move from India IMO and plenty of ways they can show a 'quid pro quo' with intentions to improve our bilateral partnership beyond full trade deals)

[Deleted]

Nov 16, 2022 10:05:32 GMT Mr Poppy said:

I'm glad to see: UK and India announce visa deal
www.politico.eu/article/rishi-sunak-uk-and-narendra-modi-india-announce-visa-deal/

but Rishi needs to deal with the 'illegal' issue and it would be a #nobrainer to introduce ID cards to help deal with any 'legal/temporary' immigrants who become 'illegal' when stay past the expiration date of their visa.

Also, whilst it will seem 'mercantile', then it's not very clear what Rishi is getting back in return. I'm OK with UK making the first move on fixing the damage Braverman made with her comments and note Rishi has stated “I wouldn't sacrifice quality for speed. And that goes for all trade deals. It's important that we get them right, rather than rush them and so that's the approach I'll take.”

So hopefully I just need to be patient on a broader trade deal (and I don't mind if it comes in phases, so next move from India IMO and plenty of ways they can show a 'quid pro quo' with intentions to improve our bilateral partnership beyond full trade deals)

You get an increasing impression that he is going to try and over deliver and cut out the wishful thinking. Braverman on the French deal and Cleverly on the NIP talks both underplayed prospects-looks like Sunak has specified  the tone clearly.

[Mr Poppy]

Rising tide of immigration to Europe pushing continent's politics to the right, experts say

uk.news.yahoo.com/rising-tide-of-immigration-to-europe-pushing-continents-politics-to-the-right-experts-say-004400696.html

[Deleted]

Nov 19, 2022 8:50:33 GMT Mr Poppy said:

Rising tide of immigration to Europe pushing continent's politics to the right, experts say

uk.news.yahoo.com/rising-tide-of-immigration-to-europe-pushing-continents-politics-to-the-right-experts-say-004400696.html

Its going to get more and more difficult.


www.euractiv.com/section/politics/news/schengen-under-threat-as-slovenia-joins-peers-mulling-border-checks/


www.euractiv.com/section/all/news/czech-border-controls-blocking-migrants-route-to-germany-frustrate-slovakia/


Note :-"The Commission has not launched infringement procedures against any of the relevant member states for continuing the border controls. "The issue is just too politically sensitive," said Leon Züllig, a research assistant at the Chair for Public Law, International Law and European Law at Justus Liebig University Giessen, who is writing his dissertation on the EU's internal borders. "The member states and their ministries of the interior would be furious."


in the following :-


www.dw.com/en/schengen-states-extend-border-checks-ignoring-eu-court/a-63747406

[Deleted]

And we think we have problems !

www.indepthnews.net/index.php/sustainability/reduced-inequalities/5747-combating-the-migrant-crisis-along-the-balkan-route-in-europe

www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/eu-calls-for-poland-to-protect-external-borders-while-migrants-face-life-threatening-treatment/

[Mr Poppy]

Nov 20, 2022 9:36:05 GMT colin said:

And we think we have problems !

www.indepthnews.net/index.php/sustainability/reduced-inequalities/5747-combating-the-migrant-crisis-along-the-balkan-route-in-europe

www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/eu-calls-for-poland-to-protect-external-borders-while-migrants-face-life-threatening-treatment/

From the first link:

"Austria is currently massively burdened by illegal migration. The solidarity contribution we make in Europe is disproportionately high. The asylum policy has failed. There is still no strong protection of the EU's external borders, and the reality is that the problem is being ignored,"

European countries (which includes UK) have a common interest in strengthening the protection of Europe's external borders. That would be one example of where UK could and IMO should 'pay' into a multilateral arrangement (run by EC if necessary) to do more to protect the external borders. That won't achieve everything of course. ID cards would be a very good additional aspect where UK should copy a lot of Europe but it doesn't look like Rishi is going to do that.

Anyway, there is a clearly a problem with the current approach and it needs to be fixed, urgently - lest more of Europe drift to the Far-Right view of 'solutions' to all forms of immigration when the problem is 'illegal' (irregular) forms. 

[Deleted]

The next wave looks Egyptian

"Of the 93,629 migrants arriving in Italy this year, Egyptians make up the largest group — 19,113 — more than three times the number of Egyptian arrivals by this time last year.
Of this year’s total, 6,400 — over a third — have arrived since September 21. Tunisians are in second place this year, making up more than 17,000 arrivals, but only 3,259 have landed since September 21, half as many as the number of Egyptians.

Egyptian parents have long dispatched their children to Italy, knowing that Italian law prevents unaccompanied minors being repatriated. But this year adults have been in the majority, one aid worker said."

Times


Egypt's economy is " a black hole that sucks up foreign funds and provides little to no benefit to the vast majority of the country’s population." It is being bailed by IMF.

arabcenterdc.org/resource/egypt-and-the-imf-greater-foreign-debt-and-deeper-economic-decline/

[Mr Poppy]

The article that colin mentioned on the main thread. 

"Don’t make terrifying dinghy crossing, deported Albanian migrant warns

"urged his fellow countrymen not to make the same journey, warning that he had faced “an unimaginable terror” which left him in thousands of pounds of debt... said Albanians trying to travel to the UK were better off trying to get a visa to come here legally"

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/dont-make-terrifying-dinghy-crossing-deported-albanian-migrant-warns-qk55ff9b7

I have no issue with some more 'flex' in the 'flexible points based immigration policy' (and nor does Sir Keir, see his speech to CBI). IMO we could tackle both issues at the same time (ie less illegal immigration and more legal immigration) but Rishi seems focussed more on the former - even though he/Braverman are still mostly talking about it rather than doing something about it. 

[Deleted]

Nov 22, 2022 11:42:54 GMT Mr Poppy said:

The article that colin mentioned on the main thread. 

"Don’t make terrifying dinghy crossing, deported Albanian migrant warns

"urged his fellow countrymen not to make the same journey, warning that he had faced “an unimaginable terror” which left him in thousands of pounds of debt... said Albanians trying to travel to the UK were better off trying to get a visa to come here legally"

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/dont-make-terrifying-dinghy-crossing-deported-albanian-migrant-warns-qk55ff9b7

I have no issue with some more 'flex' in the 'flexible points based immigration policy' (and nor does Sir Keir, see his speech to CBI). IMO we could tackle both issues at the same time (ie less illegal immigration and more legal immigration) but Rishi seems focussed more on the former - even though he/Braverman are still mostly talking about it rather than doing something about it. 

Agreed. They should be solved together.