It is time the government ended small boat crossings once and for all. Every week I receive hundreds of emails from residents telling me how sick and tired they are of watching small boats arrive across the Channel knowing that this will be to the detriment of our own communities.
What I heard from the Home Secretary in Parliament this week won’t fix it, because it still ducks the fundamental truth that this Government is unwilling to introduce a genuine deterrent such as the Rwanda plan and too weak to accept – as I do – that due to the way that its concepts have been vastly expanded by UK courts and immigration tribunals, we shall have to withdraw from the ECHR. The government can shuffle statements, relaunch strategies, and reheat old promises, but unless they are willing to do these two things, the crisis will just roll on. This is an issue that affects us all here in West Sussex. Take the Chichester Park Hotel or Cisswood House Hotel in Lower Beeding, both being used by the Home Office at great public expense when I know of thousands of local families who cannot get the housing they would like. I’ve heard enough excuses about how “complex” the issue is, which is just political code for “we won’t do what’s necessary.” The criminal gangs aren’t scared they’re more brazen than ever. Since this ‘soft touch’ government came to power saying it would ‘smash the gangs’, a record number of over 50,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats. The only thing ‘smashed’ is that record.
Britain has always welcomed those in genuine need, but that generosity is being abused, and the Government’s latest plan won’t change that. Not when removal rates remain pitiful, and not whilst loopholes remain wide open. And not when there is still no clear, credible deterrent. People in West Sussex are patient, but their patience has run out and on their behalf, mine has too.
