Is it time to stop paying £££s millions to the French?

The Army built Nightingale hospitals (unused) in no time during the pandemic. We could draft in their help and expertise to set this up.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

We seem to tie ourselves in knots over this. Anything suggested isn’t viable/isn’t within the law/is against ECHR rules.

I think it’s time to DO something. A proper deterrent.

Rwanda definitely was working (fleetingly) just the concept of it was being discussed on smartphones between migrants who were contemplating chancing their luck coming over in a rubber dinghy.

Okay, so Rwanda (very expensive, some said ‘not safe’ others said ‘just inhuman’) is out. So how about offering very basic, clean accommodation on one of our own islands? We would know where the migrants are (they’re not going to swim back are they).

Medical care, dentistry available, plus 3 square meals a day.

And process applications from whichever remote UK island we use. Arrival at Dover means ushered to a plane straight there.

It would be safe, humane and viable. Cheaper than seconding hotels. Most irregular migrants would not like it but word would get round and I’m certain numbers arriving would fall dramatically. The people smugglers would have their lucrative trade cut off (no bad thing in itself, trading in human ‘commodities’ for enormous profit).

My question. Why don’t we do this?

Excellent idea.

At least we wouldn’t need permission from Europe.
I truly cannot understand why we don’t do this. I must be missing something….

None in particular. That would be up to the government.
But pretty remote (quiet) as I think the locals wouldn’t be too impressed. One of the tiny Orkneys perhaps? And as an incentive for the community on one a ‘golden handshake’ or a tax break or something as a thank you?

Which island are you thinking of FGT?

Actually, can we not pretend the irregular migrants are all seeking sanctuary?
Some may be.
However some are economic migrants.
That’s okay, I get that and understand it. But they can be assessed on a UK island I think.

Okay.
However unless they are hospitalised, they’re going to be traumatised in an hotel too?
Not enough of a reason not to try this imo. Medical care/doctors/medication would be available.

I suspect we don’t do this because many of those arriving are traumatised by the experiences that led them to seek sanctuary. Well that’s one of many reasons

We seem to tie ourselves in knots over this. Anything suggested isn’t viable/isn’t within the law/is against ECHR rules.

I think it’s time to DO something. A proper deterrent.

Rwanda definitely was working (fleetingly) just the concept of it was being discussed on smartphones between migrants who were contemplating chancing their luck coming over in a rubber dinghy.

Okay, so Rwanda (very expensive, some said ‘not safe’ others said ‘just inhuman’) is out. So how about offering very basic, clean accommodation on one of our own islands? We would know where the migrants are (they’re not going to swim back are they).

Medical care, dentistry available, plus 3 square meals a day.

And process applications from whichever remote UK island we use. Arrival at Dover means ushered to a plane straight there.

It would be safe, humane and viable. Cheaper than seconding hotels. Most irregular migrants would not like it but word would get round and I’m certain numbers arriving would fall dramatically. The people smugglers would have their lucrative trade cut off (no bad thing in itself, trading in human ‘commodities’ for enormous profit).

My question. Why don’t we do this?

🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰🍰
Be cheaper wouldn’t it?

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Had me doubting myself there for a minute!
It was however the sheer scale of the numbers that had me starting this thread - what ARE the French doing? Ought we to spend all those MILLIONS smarter? Nothing has changed, in fact this summer I expect things will be much worse.

Stop paying them in hard cash, let them eat cake.

🤔

Shinamae

None so blind as those who will not see…

I agree!

Had me doubting myself there for a minute!
It was however the sheer scale of the numbers that had me starting this thread - what ARE the French doing? Ought we to spend all those MILLIONS smarter? Nothing has changed, in fact this summer I expect things will be much worse.

None so blind as those who will not see…

Thank you.

LizzieDrip both ITV and BBC news at the weekend were reporting that 634 had arrived in small boats over the last two days.

Nearly 600 migrants arrived in the UK on Sunday after crossing the Channel, according to data released by the Home Office. Figures published on Monday indicated that some 592 migrants arrived on March 2 across 11 boats, the highest number of arrivals on a single day so far this year.3 Mar 2025
www.itv.com
Nearly 600 migrants cross Channel in highest daily total of 2025 | ITV News Meridian

So, who’s right??
🤔

DateMigrants arrivedBoats arrivedBoats involved in uncontrolled landingsNotes
6 April 2025000
7 April 2025000
8 April 202543280
9 April 2025000
10 April 2025000
11 April 202518030
12 April 2025656

www.gov.uk/government/publications/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats-last-7-days

Or this (hold up your crucifix!)

www.gbnews.com/news/migrant-crisis-hundreds-small-boat-migrants-english-channel

The above Border Force page was updated on 13th April 2025.

OP, I’ve searched the Border Force site for the data showing 600 arrivals in one day, but can’t find it.

Of course, you will have that information, otherwise you wouldn’t have claimed it in your OP. Perhaps you could share the link?

Thank you in advance.

Checked your reference, yes Lizzy that is the Border Force Data. and shows the value of working with the French.

FYI:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/migrants-detected-crossing-the-english-channel-in-small-boats/weekly-summary-of-small-boat-arrivals-and-preventions

Border Force.

Migrants arrived 154

Eh?
Where do you get your figures? Over 600 arrived IN ONE DAY (Friday, I think) according to Border Force! Hence my OP.

Wow, 154 migrants in a week!

They’ll use up all the GP and dentist appointments; fill all the council houses; and cost the country a fortune in warm blankets. Shock, horror😱

growstuff

Cossy

Absolutely yes! It was so clear, imo, after we left the EU that none of them would help us “stop the boats”

Millions of £££££ have been wasted in the French and the Rwanda scheme.

Do you know how many crossings France has prevented?

In the week ending the 6th April

Migrants arrived 154
Boats arrived 4
Migrants prevented 314
Events prevented 9