Migrants "crisis"
The papers are getting ridiculously overexcited over the current trickle of asylum seekers who are currently risking the Channel crossing, organised by exploitative gangs of people smugglers. Sajid Javid describes it as a “major incident” and rushes home from his family holiday, and there are even calls from some Tory MPs to call in the Royal Navy, though so far there's been no suggestion that one of our useless and vastly expensive aircraft carriers (the ones with no aircraft) should become involved. And, with nauseating hypocrisy, one minister has pretended concern over the possibility of people drowning.But what does this "crisis" amount to? So far in the last two months there've been, on average, fewer than four people trying to cross each day. When Greece and Italy are having to cope with thousands, this so-called crisis is absolutely piffling. At least the Bishop of Dover has restored some perspective: “It is crucial that we all remember that we are dealing with human beings here,” he has said, “Across the nation, we have been celebrating the season of hope and goodwill as we remember Christ’s birth – let’s not forget so soon that every person is precious.”
Richard Carter ● 2873d13 Comments