Forum Topic

Subscriptions massively up to the RNLI

We have Chiswick RNLI station down the road - and it does nothing contentious.But the strictures of Nigel Farage and friends exhorting the RNLI to leave people crossing the channel in small and unseaworthy little boats seems to have had one unexpected result:Donations to the charity are hugely UP and 50% more than previously. Plus direct debits up too.I find this really cheering: maybe the country hasn't changed as much as I feared it had....

Sara Nathan ● 1757d9 Comments

I agree, you can't ignore genuine asylum seekers, illegal economic immigrants & faux asylum seekers at the mercy of the sea in small and unseaworthy little boats.But the RNLI could safely gather them up, and give them a free water taxi ride back to France? [Insert learned posting here citing the legal reasons why we can't do such a thing.]I don't know what the solution is, but I do know one thing, the RNLI assisting them to get into the UK sure as eggs ain't gonna discourage 'em?!

Rosco White ● 1757d

Why do you believe that France should take most migrants with the UK assisting minimally?

Gail ● 1756d

I believe that the topic is subscriptions increasing because of the RNLI assisting illegal immigrants and asylum seekers (I'm aware there is a difference) into the UK.

Rosco White ● 1756d

It's never illegal to claim asylum and it's always illegal for a British ship to take people claiming asylum in British waters back to France without permission from the French authorities - and why would that be forthcoming, given the French accept many more asylum-seekers than the UK does?If there were safe ways for people to claim asylum without actually having to get to the UK first, this problem would vanish as no-one wants to use this expensive and dangerous route if there are options. but there aren't.According to Home Office evidence to parliament, 98% of those crossing by little bat claim asylum so "illegal immigrants" doesnt really come into the picture at all.I'm just pleased the RNLI continutes to rescue anyone in need - no questions asked - so asylum-seekers, idiots on inflatables, people who can't steer yachts, paragliders, kids jumping off rocks... they fish them all out (though not many of the above on the Chiswick station...

Sara Nathan ● 1756d

A complex problem, everyone is entitled to their opinion.Please provide a link/your evidence of "According to Home Office evidence to parliament, 98% of those crossing by little bat claim asylum......."  And "Claiming" asylum is far from being a legitimate asylum seeker.  A good many of them are plain and simple economic migrants and toss their papers and mobiles into the drink before arrival, now why would that be?

Rosco White ● 1756d

The information came from Home Office officials evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee. I think it was in evidence given by one Abi Tierney. I expect you can find it on the Gov.uk website.Claiming asylum is something you would only do if you had to, given it involves being forbidden to work, moved around at the Home office's whim and often having to wait for years for a decision on your status. Economic migrants don't because it is wholly counter-productive.Some people are told to get rid of their passports - usually I think if they are not their own. People almost never get rid of their mobiles - which usually have all their contacts, history, pix etc from a previous life and are thus unbelievably precious. The Home Office does often confiscate them however.An informed opinion...maybe from some experience or actual knowledge...is often more useful than one based on the Daily Mail and Nigel Farage. But of course everyone is entitled to their own...

Sara Nathan ● 1744d

"An informed opinion...maybe from some experience or actual knowledge...is often more useful than one based on the Daily Mail and Nigel Farage. But of course everyone is entitled to their own..."Ha Ha, or indeed, an opinion/s formed from reading The Grauniad, or The PC Socialist Liberal Woke Weekly???  😂The UK is the softest touch on the planet.

Rosco White ● 1744d

Agreed people are entitled to opinions.From what I hear some people are aggrieved by everyday experiences.They feel pushed back or ignored, their history & identities slowly eroded.A lot of refugees, immigrants bring lots of positives.The problem is there are some negatives, anyone a millimetre to the right of centre is branded voicing themThey feel  unheard & government statistics fixed giving false readings.If opinions worked both ways it would alleviate resentment

Peter Yale ● 1739d

My opinions come from volunteering in the sector for more than a decade, from having 27 refugees living with me over the last four years, from dealing with the Home Office, reading the reports and the books (would you like a reading list? It might help).The UK is not a soft touch - but we do have soft power: benefits are better in many European countries and of course the vast majority of people fleeing violence or persecution stay either in the countries around their own or in Germany, France, Italy, Sweden or Greece - all of which take a larger number than the UK.The relatively small number of asylum-seekers who come here are joining family or community or have learnt some English but not German or French... or think they can because English is everywhere (hence the soft power) Some poor misguided ones come here because they think the UK is that beacon of fairness that it used to be.And it's  true our police don't beat up those claiming asylum, as they do in other countries such as Hungary and France. But no doubt you think that's being a soft touch too...

Sara Nathan ● 1739d