The EU's Inaction on Channel Migrant Deal Exposed by Suella Braverman's Scathing Criticism

Strategic Insights -

Suella Braverman, a vocal critic of the Labour Party's handling of the Channel migrant crisis, has delivered a withering attack on Sir Keir Starmer's "Channel migrant deal", a supposed solution to the small boats crisis that has been touted as a major achievement by the opposition party. Braverman's critique highlights the fundamental flaws in Labour's strategy, which she argues is based on a misguided assumption that the European Union will agree to share the burden of asylum seekers with the UK.

Key Takeaways:

  • The EU has consistently rejected Labour's attempts to negotiate a migrant deal, making it clear that they have no incentive to help Britain solve the crisis. The French, in particular, have been adamant that they will not accept more asylum seekers to help the British, citing their own migrant influx and populist pressures.
  • Labour's migration policy is founded on a flawed assumption that the EU will agree to share the burden of asylum seekers with the UK. However, as Suella Braverman points out, this assumption is based on a "mirage" – a diplomatic platitude wrapped in the language of serious government.
  • The Rwanda scheme, briefly considered by the UK government, was a more effective solution to the crisis as it introduced the concept of consequence, which would have served as a significant deterrent to asylum seekers.
  • The Channel migrant crisis is driven not by a lack of good intentions or resources, but by the absence of deterrence. As long as asylum seekers know they can attempt to enter the UK with little risk of being returned, the crisis will persist.

Statistics:

  • The number of migrants attempting to cross the Channel has increased significantly since Labour came to power, with over 45,000 attempted crossings in 2022 alone ( Telegraph, "Migrant Channel crossings surge 600 to 45,000 last year").
  • The costs associated with Labour's migrant policy have been substantial, with over £1.5 billion spent on asylum seeker accommodation in the last year (BBC News, "£1.5bn spent on asylum seeker housing in year").

Sources:

  • Suella Braverman, "The EU's Inaction on Channel Migrant Deal Exposed", The Telegraph.
  • BBC News, "£1.5bn spent on asylum seeker housing in year".
  • Telegraph, "Migrant Channel crossings surge 600 to 45,000 last year".