49,000 migrants invade Spanish enclave in 24 hours

Here’s something for certain people to get their teeth into….😉

That's cheered me up no end. Thanks for sharing.

Shinamae

Here’s something for certain people to get their teeth into….😉

Same old- same old. Farage called a news conference this morning to rehash/rinse/repeat his idea to intercept small boats that cross the channel- Operation Fortress late this morning.

Operation Fortress will the biggest joint UK military operation with commands from the Royal Navy, Royal Marines, RAF and British Army since world war 2 apparently. The plan would be to intercept any unauthorised boats and detain their occupants before returning them back to France or Belgium under escort on navy vessels. A few small problems though:

1) there is an absolute universal human right, under domestic and international law to claim asylum and the navy is not legally entitled to abrogate that law
2) its simply not possible for the RN towering vessels to directly engage with a typical small vessel/dingy in the channel- either towing them away, pushing them back towards French waters or towing them back to France.
3) That is if the RN caused somebody on a small vessel to die or be injured that is a common law offence given the UK literally is not at war and irregular immigration is a civil issue
4) there are multiple international conventions to save lives at sea - it is hardly likely RN will agree to endanger lives
5) Pushing people and vessels into French waters violates French sovereignty and invites retaliation and resistance. Things could escalate into a mini Cold War between the UK, France and the wider EU. Trade and much else would be endangered and impact the UK economy.

The RN was in charge of just commanding border Force a few years ago, didn't like it and said it made no difference. The RN said it has better things to do, lacks resources and will refuse to endanger the lives of civilians, let alone attack and drown them.

Reform UK would need to remove the UK from all relevant international conventions, amend domestic laws and find RN and RAF commanders actually willing to engage with Operation Fortress. It would seriously damage the UK's international relations.

As Tom Sharpe, retired RN commander, simply put it to the BBC in response UK Border Force is better suited to managing migrant arrivals than the Navy. Warships designed for tasks including anti submarine defences are not best used for ferrying people around. You're better off using a ferry

Oh dear, Has Nige been telling porkies again? I suppose the use of the word " Operation" appeals somehow.

"Operation" Raise the Colours.
" Operation" Fortress.
"Operation" Big Fat Lies.

Putin will be laughing up his sleeve!

Operation Fortress- Reform UK's plan to divert the Royal Navy away from tracking Russian vessels particularly around Ireland, damage the reputation of UK on the world stage, break international laws, weaken UK naval defences and lay the RN and UK government open to Corporate Homicide and Manslaughter claims.

I was wondering if Putin even gives a rats about the UK. I think he is all self self self.

It does bear wondering about I agree.......

nanna8

I was wondering if Putin even gives a rats about the UK. I think he is all self self self.

He wants to destroy the UK. He funded some of Brexit and there's suspected Russian funding getting to Reform. HIs aim is to destroy the EU, too because the UK and the EU are supporting Ukraine.

There's quite history of Russian interference and incursions into the UK. Remember the murder of a Russian dissident in the UK and the attempted murder of another one?

Shinamae

Here’s something for certain people to get their teeth into….😉

I won't say what I think about people who really believe that Farage can accomplish this.

I'd have Galaxy on my back if I did...

The threat Russia poses to the UK is real, rising and at its highest level since the Cold War according to UK Security Services nanna8.

Reckless Russian naval and aerial manoeuvres, hybrid warfare, cyberattacks, critical infrastructure sabotage, physical and military proximity etc..

Moscow relentlessly targets British democratic processes, supply chains and public trust via coordinated online disinformation and frequent cyber operations.

Putin may be self, self, self, but that does not stop his expansionist ambitions or his nefarious activities.

Farage would have to win a GE first- not looking likely at the moment.

But even if he did he hasn't got a rat's chance in making this proposal work.

Thanks LemonJam and others for setting out the legal position surrounding Farage’s latest nonsense.
Our Royal Marines and Navy would not be part of his illegal proposals

On the issue of the definition of far right, it’s outlandish to lump the idea that stable families are best for children with the dangerous and inaccurate suggestion it includes denigrating single parents or fathers

Also wanting safe and appropriate responses to asylum seekers doesn’t mean leaving your front door open 🙈

Iam64- agree with everything you say 👍

“There were so many people in the sea. Everyone was trying to grab on to you to save themselves, and you were trying to escape and move forward so they wouldn’t drag you down or drown you. The Moroccan police were pushing us toward the water and telling us ‘swim, swim’.”

From The Guardian.

88 bodies in the morgue. Children missing.

Another thing I noticed in the Guardian article was that the Moroccan police were not letting people from the rest of the African continent through, only Moroccans. The surmising about it being a political statement of displeasure, encouraged by the government, towards Spain rings more true to me now.

Probably the same as I think about the progressives Maizie D who swallow every slogan known to man, or woman!

Ceuta/Spain has bi lateral agreements with Morocco for returns due to their land borders- the only reason once a diplomatic conversation began that Spain were able to return the majority.

Uk left the EU as a result of Brexit referendum so we have no such bilateral agreements in place- big difference.

88 bodies in the morgue RIP.

nanna8

I was wondering if Putin even gives a rats about the UK. I think he is all self self self.

He very much gives a rat about the uk. What do you think all those young English speaking Russians are doing all day tapping away online.
Why do you think GCHQ employ young Russian speaking tech boffins. They arnt playing sonic the hedgehog.

petra

nanna8

I was wondering if Putin even gives a rats about the UK. I think he is all self self self.

He very much gives a rat about the uk. What do you think all those young English speaking Russians are doing all day tapping away online.
Why do you think GCHQ employ young Russian speaking tech boffins. They arnt playing sonic the hedgehog.

Without doubt, the Russians continue to undermine our country. There no longer appesrs to be doubt Putin’s threat to flood Europe with asylum seekers can be dismissed. Not to forget Brexit

Never dismiss the power of states committed to destroying what it sees as a threat

Meanwhile response to Operation Fortress:

1) Senior naval figures and the French authorities dismissed Reform’s plans to use military vessels to stop small boats crossing the Channel, saying the proposals “lacked substance” and amounted to a “violation of maritime law and international law”.

2) A French official has responded to that Reform UK Operation Fortress plans would be “unacceptable”. The [French] government would clearly not expect a key ally such as the UK to infringe on territory or waters without consent the official said.

3) On the not insignificant hurdle of the French authorities not agreeing to allow the Royal Navy to dump people on their shores- Reform’s spokesperson for home affairs, Zia Yusuf has said today: “If the French disagree, what will end up happening is we’ll end up having something of an argument with the French

4) Yusef claimed that French authorities refusing to allow people to disembark on its shores would be a crime against humanity. Yusuf added This is a boat full of innocent civilians who are being rescued as part of a humanitarian mission

5) However Yusef did not explain how his party’s policy of refusing to allow any to make it safely to the UK’s shores would not constitute the same crime against humanity

8) Yusuf claimed Reform had sought legal opinion that its plan would be lawful, saying it would define people making the Channel crossing by irregular means as being in distress at sea – obliging the navy to rescue them. He said his party would also tell French they must abide by obligations under international law to process those people’s asylum claims “because it is a safe country”. Yusef did not explain what Reform’s stance would be if France simply said the same to the UK in response

It was indeed a mass invasion and Spain has dealt with it very quickly.
Many people seemed to be unaware that had this enclave down there attached to Morocco!
If only our government would take more forceful action over the channel crossings.
Sadly we are paying France huge eyewatering amounts of money to monitor and supposedly prevent these crossings. But in reality they are letting it happen. In fact they have no more concerns about people making these dangerous crossings than the people smugglers.

Spain was able to return the majority because of the returns agreements they have in place with Morocco. The Uk does not have any such returns agreements in place.

What forceful action would you like a uk government to take? What do you think of Reform UK Operation Fortress plans? Forceful enough for you? Do you think Op F will work in context of legal, naval and French Government response to Farage today?

Iam64

petra

nanna8

I was wondering if Putin even gives a rats about the UK. I think he is all self self self.

He very much gives a rat about the uk. What do you think all those young English speaking Russians are doing all day tapping away online.
Why do you think GCHQ employ young Russian speaking tech boffins. They arnt playing sonic the hedgehog.

Without doubt, the Russians continue to undermine our country. There no longer appesrs to be doubt Putin’s threat to flood Europe with asylum seekers can be dismissed. Not to forget Brexit

Never dismiss the power of states committed to destroying what it sees as a threat

Obviously the Russian shenanigans in the Chanel and North Sea didn’t make the news in Australia.
Then there is the games they play with our nuclear subs.

Yes and threatening a retired couple sailing their yacht

If we had a better stronger Navy the Russians wouldn’t be playing these games with us.
The UK only has itself to blame.