After over 28,500 migrants were officially processed after crossing the English Channel in 2021, evidencing the porous nature of our border protection against potential terrorists, it emerged in the run up to New Year that there is active consideration of parole for 92 actual terrorists.
I have an alternative. How about letting them serve their full sentence and then immediately deport them back to their country of origin instead to keep our population safe?
Now I understand this will not do for the Human Rights legal fraternity so here is an update of my immigration proposals, first published on 3rd October 2021 including how to deal with convicted criminals.
Immigration begins and ends with one question: what does the country need? If jobs need filling and the indigenous population cannot be trained to do them (although with the end of furlough, I cannot see a reason why), then immigration is one option but only after visas have been exhausted for temporary overseas citizens to fill gaps in the workforce until British citizens are trained.
If we really want to balance immigration numbers, a 360o approach is needed. Whilst there is no silver bullet, in bald terms, this breaks down into 5 requirements.
1. Political will. This is the most fundamental requirement. Without it, the existing perceived "free for all" will continue. Giving over £180M to the French in 2021 and expecting them to "stop the boats coming" is not political will;
2. Auto deportation without appeal for illegal immigrants and convicted criminals whose sentences exceed 1 year. This will help to reduce the ever increasing growth of human rights lawyers abusing the legal system with often frivolous appeals that cause sclerosis leading to years for deportation to take place, by which time the original "illegal immigrant" or convicted criminal may likely have settled/resettled, begun/resumed a relationship and have children;
3. A go forward policy for legal immigration based on economic need, including points based entry system to be enforced rather than any form of virtue signalling to appease those who would prefer a return to unrestricted immigration. All legal immigrants must apply for and be granted leave to enter the UK at an offshore processing centre before attempting to enter the country;
4. British values must be embraced by all legal immigrants and there must be community integration to facilitate harmony. Whilst the UK has a proud tradition of tolerance for diversity of colour, creed and faith, this must work both ways. Not only can there be no "no go" areas for any part of the British population, whilst we are increasingly secular, the largest religious groups in the population remain part of Christianity, including the largest element, the Church of England. Notwithstanding the teachings of other religions, we must not, will not adopt any other law than the law of this land, whether in statute or common law. Those immigrants whose beliefs cannot overcome this imperative must exercise their option to leave the country for another that aligns with their beliefs;
5. The UK must continue to take its equitable share of genuine asylum seekers.
The passing of the government's flagship Nationality & Borders bill is neutered without exiting our position as a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights (which yes Cherie Blair assisted in drafting).
I have also reluctantly concluded that the 1951 United Nations Refugee Convention is obsolete and must be brought into the 21st century as a matter of urgency.
The government must act quickly and decisively on these 2 legal matters. That is what take back control means to me and I believe many others. Only than will we begin to protect UK borders properly.
Arise Sir Tony, your time has (finally) comeTony Blair, former Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party is to receive a knighthood in the New Year's Honours List.
Blair will be known as "Sir Tony Blair, Member of the Order of the Garter".
As a politician who uniquely united both left and right against him, he will forever be known for inter alia:
- Freeing terrorist murderers under the Good Friday Agreement whilst making British soldiers face trial for their part in the Troubles;
- Enacting the 1998 Human Rights Act which binds the UK to the European Convention on Human Rights;
- Leading the UK into an illegal war in Iraq based on non-existent weapons of mass destruction;
- Selling our gold reserves at a fraction of their value to shore up the liquidity of the UK balance sheet;
- Presiding over the creation of mass uncontrolled immigration following 2003 EU expansion under free movement of people;
- Being the architect of the disastrous devolution experiment to appease nationalist minorities in both Scotland & Wales;
- Creating mass welfare dependence whilst massaging unemployment figures;
After leaving office, Blair relentlessly pursued the monetisation of his time as Prime Minister through speaking engagements and a nebulous UN role in the Middle East. Yes the same Middle East, he had helped to destabilise.
Against this backdrop, why has he been knighted at all? The court of public opinion is vehemently opposed to it but apparently it is set in stone that former Prime Ministers are knighted.
By awarding a knighthood to Blair, the Queen can move on with doing likewise with subsequent former Prime Ministers.
As Calvin Robinson alluded to on Twitter, making Blair wait almost 15 years may have sent a message in itself. We will never know but for me it leaves a sense of revulsion and dismay.
Finally, I would like to wish you all a Happy New Year, filled with peace, prosperity and good health.