Britain's strangely contorted attitude to immigration

The British have once again been found behaving inhumanely to people coming seeking sanctuary in their land. There was an outcry recently, with the way that migrants, coming across the Channel, were being treated at holding centres at Manston in Kent. The mainly, asylum seekers, were once again being treated like criminals by the British authorities. There is much history to this approach, with a whole privately run wing of the security state growing up to deal with migrants coming to the UK. Instead of sanctuary, read detention – often for some time. This inhumane approach is followed with accompanying mood music from the British tabloid media, which has spent decades vilifying foreigners, who may come seeking to live in this land. It has been more than amusing recently to see the true fruit of this approach over the years. It led, in part, to the disastrous Brexit, which in turn meant less skilled labour available to do the jobs that, often the indigenous, would not do. Brexit and the Covid pandemic led to the labour that had been staffing hospitals and care homes, working in hospitality and harvesting the crops heading home. One of the big problems of the British economy over the past couple of years has been the lack of people to actually do the work. This is causing those, who previously scored cheap and racist political points vilifying migrants, now seeking ways to get people to come here to work. This pattern has been seen before, with people from Ireland and the Caribbean coming over to do essential work in previous decades. Many of them suffered that particular brand of British racism saved up for those who come to contribute to the UK. Many still remember the no Irish, no Blacks, no dogs notices of the 1950s and 60s. This though is to only discuss one particular group of people coming to the UK, namely economic migrants, seeking to make a living for themselves and contribute. They are desperately needed now but maybe less willing to come. The people arriving on the beaches of southern England are mostly asylum seekers fleeing oppression. More than 75% of their claims for asylum are upheld (eventually). There is an international duty to provide refuge to these people under the international Refugee Convention. Listening to the rhetoric of government ministers, the point is clearly missed. It is the old “Britain is an easy touch routine,” not that these people are fleeing oppression needing refuge. Home Office minister Robert Jenrick typified the approach, when he started highlighting the numbers of refugees coming to these shores compared to other European countries. No doubt the deteriorating relations with European neighbours like France, due to the bombastic nationalistic approach taken by the Conservative governments since Brexit, may mean that they are being less co-operative than before, when it comes to dealing with this human tragedy. But in reality the British are merely reaping what they have sown. Conflict and climate change are major creators of refugees. The UK and other countries from the rich First World have contributed to wars and the destruction of the planet. The arms sales register is one table where Britain always features in the top five. These causes, substantially contributed to by Britain and others from the rich First World have helped create more and more refugees seeking asylum. Given the circumstances, the least that the UK and others can do it so face up to its moral and legal responsibilities by providing a safe refuge for these people. Castigating and criminalising people who are taking such desperate measures to get here, reflects very poorly on the UK. It is high time that the UK recognised its international responsibilities and accepted those seeking refuge – especially given the culpable role that this country played in creating their plight in the first place. A caveat to this argument, on economic migration, is that just maybe Britain with its ageing population should recognise that migration is good. When people come here seeking to work and to contribute maybe it would be to everyone’s benefit to welcome them. The alternative is to continue to build a country and economy that is internationally isolated and fundamentally flawed when it comes to providing the good and services required to make things work for all 67 million of its inhabitants. Irish Post - 19/11/2022