Yvette Cooper / Migrant Watch / Stopping The Boats

LegislationTypeYearOverview
Fairer, Faster and Firmer: A Modern Approach to Immigration and AsylumWhite Paper1998Instituted new controls but also a "covenant" with asylum seekers; emphasized "joined up" government and the need for administrative overhaul.
Human Rights ActParliamentary Act1998Incorporated the European Convention on Human Rights into UK law, giving human rights the status of "higher law."
Immigration and Asylum ActParliamentary Act1999Created a "covenant" with asylum seekers but generally restrictive; made provisions for a new welfare support system (the National Asylum Support Service).
Race Relations (Amendment) ActParliamentary Act2000Broadened antidiscrimination legislation to police and immigration service and created "positive duty" for race equality on public authorities.
Antiterrorism, Crime and Security ActParliamentary Act2001Part 4 of the act legislated that suspected terrorists who were immigrants could be interned (potentially on a permanent basis). The Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) reviews decisions, but the act does not permit judicial review of the SIAC.
Secure Borders, Safe Havens: Integration with Diversity in Modern BritainWhite Paper2002Set out comprehensive reform, including the goal of "managed migration."
The Nationality, Immigration and Asylum ActParliamentary Act2002Increased restrictions on asylum (breaking the previous "covenant") and new enforcement powers, but noted support of economic migration.
Highly Skilled Migrant Program (HSMP)Change to regulations2002Created an immigration scheme based on points that aims to attract high-skilled migrants.
Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) ActParliamentary Act2004Further reduced asylum appeal rights and other restrictive measures.
Controlling our Borders: Making Migration Work for BritainFive-Year Departmental Plan2005Published three months before the 2005 election, the plan set out a strong set of measures on gaining control of borders and managing migration through a new points system.
Improving Opportunity, Strengthening Society: The Government’s Strategy to Increase Race Equality and Community CohesionPolicy Strategy2005A race-equality strategy designed to cut across government, complemented by a cross-cutting, race-equality target, and overseen by a board of senior public figures.
This is just half of his policy….

I can't find a record of Blair giving a general amnesty try as I might.

I don’t expect results so quickly but I do expect a credible plan to provide a deterrent.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see an amnesty maddy - a horrifying prospect. Part of their ‘plan’ is to stop the use of hotels - an amnesty would achieve that, turning all the migrants out with appalling results.

Oreo

It wouldn’t be very fair to expect a new government to show any results on this issue a week or a month into power, but if they don’t after a year then the public won’t be happy.

I agree.
But it’s not unreasonable to have expected them to have given this situation serious thought during the last few years. And now be able to make proper progress with it.
I suspect that what Labour may do is give a general amnesty to all the unprocessed migrants since that was Blair’s solution to the much smaller situation more than 25 years ago. I hope I’m wrong.

I just think that seeing as Labour and Lib/Dem voted down every effort of the previous government with regard to illegal immigration, it’s not unreasonable that in the fourteen years in opposition, Labour would have started to put together something of a plan on how they would deal with this. In particular, since fourteen years is a long time, I should have expected that to be done during the last five years. They have been fully aware of how this situation has been developing and Yvette Cooper should have been thinking and taking advice about how she may deal with it.

It wouldn’t be very fair to expect a new government to show any results on this issue a week or a month into power, but if they don’t after a year then the public won’t be happy.

Joseann

The phones migrants are given surely can't have cameras or we would be seeing photos of the conditions in which they are kept? I assume they don't have Internet access either, just a pay as you go phone to make calls? Provided the phone isn't used for say drug trafficking or something illegal, then I can't see much wrong with their having one to contact friends and family. They're probably old reconditioned ones.

Many illegal migrants have their own phones already, they don’t need an old reconditioned one.It’s how they keep in touch with their families and friends, other migrants waiting in France and people smugglers.

Primrose53

Wonder what pet name they will give Yvette? 🤔

Yes I wonder, any suggestions?

Another 44 paid people smugglers to cross the channel yesterday. Total 590 new arrivals.

The phones migrants are given surely can't have cameras or we would be seeing photos of the conditions in which they are kept? I assume they don't have Internet access either, just a pay as you go phone to make calls? Provided the phone isn't used for say drug trafficking or something illegal, then I can't see much wrong with their having one to contact friends and family. They're probably old reconditioned ones.

Many landing here haven’t got any proof of who they are

They should be the first to be deported. What if one of us landed somewhere with absolutely nothing to prove who we are, where we came from, no idea of any medical conditions we might have……

I assume those who come here illegally get a full medical before they are sent on to wherever they go?

Where do they go? You see them coming ashore, but what happens then? Do they then go to the hotels?

Never seem to hear what the process involves.

Nicenanny3

Tens of thousands of taxpayer-funded mobile phones are being handed to foreign criminals who are subject to deportation and the rocketing number of people who came here without permission, including those who claimed asylum after entering the UK by dinghy. 14,000 were given out just between January and September this year.(Migration Watch Website)

This is wrong.

Around 14,000 mobile phones were reported to have been handed out to asylum seekers during the course of the pandemic as immigration staff were unable to interview individuals face to face because of Covid-19 restrictions. This was a temporary measure.

Full Fact, Feb 2024
fullfact.org/online/asylum-seeker-free-iphone/

I suppose its good if one is an immigrant to have a smattering of the language at least?

No problema, always useful.

The conservatives spent 3 years to try and get the Rwanda plan off the ground, which wouldnt have worked because of the numbers Rwanda could take would never be enough

I beg to differ Wyllow3. Once word got round (via those mobile phones supplied by charities - who pays for the SIM cards? and top up Pay As You Go?) and flights were SEEN to be taking off, then the deterrent factor would have been proven.

As migrants themselves in Calais said “what’s the point in paying a lot of money to end up in Rwanda?”

Long term, this would have worked I’m sure of it.

No matter.
Yvette Cooper has a plan B that she’s been formulating in her head for months, I’m sure of it.

It will be very interesting to hear what it is. We are all waiting.

Tens of thousands of taxpayer-funded mobile phones are being handed to foreign criminals who are subject to deportation and the rocketing number of people who came here without permission, including those who claimed asylum after entering the UK by dinghy. 14,000 were given out just between January and September this year.(Migration Watch Website)

Wyllow3

Ludicrous, some of the myths around.

"Asylum seekers do not receive phones as part of their standard support package from the Home Office, though a number of charities do provide donated phones to new arrivals"

Full Fact.

They do have better accommodation than the homeless here, though.

Fact.

Wyllow3

The conservatives spent 3 years to try and get the Rwanda plan off the ground, which wouldnt have worked because of the numbers Rwanda could take would never be enough.

I expect Labour to start putting plans into place but not quick results. and asking it within a week? People have posted the plans upthread if you want to check.

Stopped at every turn by Labour and Labour/Lib Dems in the House of Lords. If the first plane had been allowed to take off 2/3 years ago things might have been different but was stopped by some faceless ECHR judge who like Labour didn't want it to succeed.

Also it was a deterrent to put migrants off crossing the Channel anyway all water under the bridge now excuse my pun. Labour had to axe it even if it was working because they spent 2/3 years trying to stop it. Cutting their noses off to spite their face in my opinion because they have no plan.

The conservatives spent 3 years to try and get the Rwanda plan off the ground, which wouldnt have worked because of the numbers Rwanda could take would never be enough.

I expect Labour to start putting plans into place but not quick results. and asking it within a week? People have posted the plans upthread if you want to check.

Yvette Cooper and the Labour Party voted against many measures the Tories were trying to bring in. She moaned a lot about it. I think we need to give them time (not too much!)to get themselves together. But then I expect her to sort it out because she’s dismissed so many attempts to try and stop the boats. Presumably she has a plan in mind!

Ludicrous, some of the myths around.

"Asylum seekers do not receive phones as part of their standard support package from the Home Office, though a number of charities do provide donated phones to new arrivals"

Full Fact.

For weeks & months on end. Then they have the gall to complain about the Bibby Stockholm? With free bus passes into town, a doctor, nurse and dentist in attendance.

Hmm.
We definitely ARE too soft. After Calais surely this would seem like a bed in the Hilton?
Clean, basic, 3 meals a day.
Oh “would you like a mobile phone to go with that sir?”

That's whats happening in the USA (black market ID ) - en masse.

Well, according to the French, by begging, stealing and various charities helping. They are all sleeping rough, obviously. .🤷‍♀️

How do the (waiting & watching) migrants in the Calais tent city survive for weeks on end?

I live in the South so a well aware of the problems all this causes near the South Coast.

But, although ID cards may or not be a good idea, I’m not sure how it would help with the little boats.

Many landing here haven’t got any proof of who they are.

Employers are supposed to ask for ID/visas before they employ anyone. Some don’t, so they won’t be worried about ID cards.

Cash in hands jobs might be an issue, but if we manage to stop people working, or refuse to give them benefits, then we create more problems.

Very few people will allow themselves to starve to death - so, they will survive by robbing/stealing/begging and sleeping rough. 🤷‍♀️