Home Secretary says nearly all women who attempt to each UK in small boats are raped on their journey

It annoys me intensely when the puerile argument that France should keep the migrants who are using the country as a staging post to get to the UK is mooted. Why exactly? They have been through various countries with the intent of reaching the UK, why is France responsible?

I know MT62. That was my point! These migrants are not all from countries colonised by us

Some are fleeing persecution and death, just like Farage's Huguenot ancestors.

Aveline

I know MT62. That was my point! These migrants are not all from countries colonised by us

👍🏻yep

Maremia

Some are fleeing persecution and death, just like Farage's Huguenot ancestors.

So why don’t they take refuge in the first safest country? & don’t tell me they have family here!

Casdon

It annoys me intensely when the puerile argument that France should keep the migrants who are using the country as a staging post to get to the UK is mooted. Why exactly? They have been through various countries with the intent of reaching the UK, why is France responsible?

Why is the uk responsible?

Well Utube must have a lot of AI capabilities because the boats I see have all male passengers, never see any females. Blokes under 25 mostly. Fit looking and well dressed.

So, this has turned into a 'migrant moan' Thread, and not a concern about the safety of women and children seeking refuge?
Who could have predicted that? 🤔

Maremia

So, this has turned into a 'migrant moan' Thread, and not a concern about the safety of women and children seeking refuge?
Who could have predicted that? 🤔

How exactly are they going to be any safer here? If it’s in their culture that they can be abused, especially from a very young age!
I am not saying all cultures are like that, btw.
All am saying how do we start to protect them?

Well, the Migration Observatory lists the top ten countries of origin for asylum seekers as being Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, Eritrea, Vietnam, Iran and Afghanistan. All of which were colonised by the British or have historic British connections (Vietnam's and Eritrea 's being post WW2.) Not all of them arrive on 'small boats, of course.
When you look at the government statistics on small boat arrivals a staggering number of them are from former British colonies, notably African, or, in the case of the Middle East countries, former British 'Protectorates. Notably Syria...

I think we can safely say that we are reaping the rewards of the British Empire and Britain's historic attempts to control other countries.

This was a response to Aveline's post at 11:10:22.

And a staggeringly large proportion are not. Apart from anything else, why come here after traversing many other countries? Also why come West and not East? I'm glad the govt seems to be making some progress with dealing with asylum claims and returning people as necessary.

Aveline

And a staggeringly large proportion are not. Apart from anything else, why come here after traversing many other countries? Also why come West and not East? I'm glad the govt seems to be making some progress with dealing with asylum claims and returning people as necessary.

also, why come west and not east
If you look at a map that suggestion wouldn’t be a good option 🤷‍♀️

Aveline

And a staggeringly large proportion are not. Apart from anything else, why come here after traversing many other countries? Also why come West and not East? I'm glad the govt seems to be making some progress with dealing with asylum claims and returning people as necessary.

Prove it.

So, do you agree that we should at least start to think about how to keep them safe?
Of course we don't have all the answers.

Thanks Maizie.

Casdon

It annoys me intensely when the puerile argument that France should keep the migrants who are using the country as a staging post to get to the UK is mooted. Why exactly? They have been through various countries with the intent of reaching the UK, why is France responsible?

Perhaps France should have stopped them at their borders, or did they break in illegally as they are doing here?

Perhaps because asylum seekers don't actually break in illegally to the UK, France or any other country...

MT62

Casdon

It annoys me intensely when the puerile argument that France should keep the migrants who are using the country as a staging post to get to the UK is mooted. Why exactly? They have been through various countries with the intent of reaching the UK, why is France responsible?

Why is the uk responsible?

Why is France responsible? It just makes no sense whatsoever. If migrants were using the UK as a staging post because they wanted to go to Iceland, or Ireland, would they be our responsibility to keep if the country they were headed for didn’t want them? It’s just UK centric thinking to suggest they are the responsibility of somebody else.

LemonJam

Perhaps because asylum seekers don't actually break in illegally to the UK, France or any other country...

Well they don't come here legally do they? Otherwise it wouldn't be called illegal migration

The Schengen Agreement a major structural factor that allows irregular migrants to travel across Europe to Calais and France are party to this.

MaizieD

Well, the Migration Observatory lists the top ten countries of origin for asylum seekers as being Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, Eritrea, Vietnam, Iran and Afghanistan. All of which were colonised by the British or have historic British connections (Vietnam's and Eritrea 's being post WW2.) Not all of them arrive on 'small boats, of course.
When you look at the government statistics on small boat arrivals a staggering number of them are from former British colonies, notably African, or, in the case of the Middle East countries, former British 'Protectorates. Notably Syria...

I think we can safely say that we are reaping the rewards of the British Empire and Britain's historic attempts to control other countries.

Very true MaizieD

I disagree. This is 2026. Why here? Why now? Because we're soft touches.

sundowngirl

LemonJam

Perhaps because asylum seekers don't actually break in illegally to the UK, France or any other country...

Well they don't come here legally do they? Otherwise it wouldn't be called illegal migration

They do actually- asylum seekers have a legal right to make a claim.

sundowngirl

The Schengen Agreement a major structural factor that allows irregular migrants to travel across Europe to Calais and France are party to this.

Incorrect. The Schengen Agreement does not allow illegal or irregular migrants.
The Agreement strictly regulates who can enter the passport-free travel zone. While it abolishes internal border controls between member states to facilitate travel for citizens and legal residents, it explicitly enforces strict external border controls to prevent unauthorized entry. Crossing a Schengen external border without a valid passport, visa, or travel authorisation is explicitly classified as illegal entry.