Government is entrusted with specific responsibilities towards the nation, one of the most crucial being to ensure, wherever possible, the safety of its citizens. While efforts to curb the spread of the Coronavirus have generally been well-intentioned, it would seem that these efforts are being critically undercut by an adherence to a discredited open-borders ideology.
National borders serve purposes beyond identifying who must pay taxes to the ever-expanding government. They should fulfil the following tasks:
Allowing authorities to determine precisely who is entering and leaving the country;
Allowing authorities to stop undesirables and those who pose a threat to public safety from entering or, in the cases of wanted criminals, leaving;
Allowing us all to adequately understand how many people are living in the country;
And during this present crisis:
Prevent the introduction of new COVID-19 cases.
Since the beginning of the lockdown, reports suggest that hundreds of would-be immigrants per day are being apprehended attempting to enter the country illegally. To date, it appears that these new arrivals are still among us. But what is this in a population of millions?
This figure represents only those who have been apprehended by authorities; it does not include those who arrive on a secluded beach and disappear into cities and towns across the country.
Thus, it’s time to ask serious questions.
We are well aware that many of the camps in France – from where these migrants depart – are in the grip of COVID-19. They are no-go areas for Vichy French authorities.
Those who are met by the Border Force upon arrival are taken to quarantine facilities, but those – almost certainly a larger number – who arrive under cover of darkness or are otherwise undetected are not. These people could well be carrying the virus to crowded cities with dense populations. After all, it is rare that illegal migrants choose a secluded, sleepy village to make their new home.
Where do they go? Do they have jobs ready and waiting, or family and friends willing to take them in? If they have arrived for work, they will likely be working with other illegal immigrants, none of whom will be eager to present to a local GP if they have symptoms until things get really bad. Their work colleagues will become infected, and the virus will continue to spread unabated. Should they be hiding with loved ones, they are putting the very people they care about at risk, and of course, the wider communities in which they live.
This lax attitude towards our national borders, now more than ever, puts us at serious risk. Hospitals that we have been at great pains to alleviate of the anticipated burden will not cope with a second wave of infections. Will we ever discover the true toll of the Coronavirus, including those who have put off treatment or hesitated to have a test for cancer only to see their survival chances plummet?
What is the solution? As it happens, the answer is merely one of attitude. The government should immediately declare that anyone who enters the country illegally, thereby breaking the law, will be removed as soon as possible and denied the right to return or to apply for any form of immigration status.
There is a vast illicit communication network across Europe that involves human traffickers, smugglers, drivers, and even – shame on them – NGO workers offering advice to those about to undertake perilous journeys. Once this network comprehends that Britain will forever reject any person who breaks the law to enter the country, these dangerous crossings will cease.
How do we know this strategy will be effective? Just look at the drop in boats coming into Australia; their policy has proven that this attitude significantly reduces illegal crossings and saves lives.
The United Kingdom has a long history of accepting refugees. We have systems in place, support structures, both government- and community-lead, that give each person fleeing violence and persecution the best possible chance to begin a brand new life. How long can this benign system survive if we continue to admit those who do not follow the law? How many genuine refugees will be stopped from reaching their full potential due to limited funds and resources?
But back to the question of those arriving by boat illegally. They are first risking their lives by making a dangerous journey, then putting at risk our lives through spreading infection, and also their families, colleagues, and friends. Who benefits from this madness of porous borders other than those who view it as a religion?
A country without borders is not a real country. The failure to enforce border control brings no benefit to Britain while heaping potential harm upon the nation. It’s time to seek a sea-change in the government’s attitude.
Nay, to demand it!
Excellent article which I would like to reproduce please.
Of all these replies there is not one that gives any proposals for stemming the invasion. Why is that? There are no suggestions for taking any actions by us plebs. Why is that?
The solutions are obvious.
Total madness reigns in our Government and Civil Service but the responsibility lies squarely and indisputably on the shoulders of THE VOTERS — who else?
They had their greatest opportunity when Nigel led the charge and was rejected.
Now people speak of his virtual disappearance from politics……….Ha! Who can blame him?
This current situation we find ourselves in would and could have been handled by Nigel WITHOUT A SHADOW OF DOUBT?
Remember HE, unlike the voters, the media and some of his so-called friends, never changed his script, his targets, his promises and ambitions – which, had he been successful in his ambitions, would have probably saved hundreds if not thousands of lives and the health of the nation.
Blame yourselves Brits……..nobody else……….we were faced with a flood tide with the emergence of UKIP and Farage – and we didn’t have the guts or the foresight to see it through ………I will quote Shakespeare’s Brutus………….”There is a tide in the affairs of men which, when taken at the flood leads on to fortune………….” So, we are truly wallowing in the shallows – and unless and until we find men of the vision and calibre of a ‘Farage’ will we emerge from this quagmire we have created for ourselves.
Bumbling Billy-Bunter Boris puts the fear of God in me………….and I have NEVER wavered in expressing my grave doubts about his ability, his honesty or his statesmanship.
Unfortunately for us, the die is cast – so one and all – hold your breath. You ain’t seen nothin yet!
(Incidentally, no sweat, but I have NEVER EVER been ‘notified of new posts via email’ – perhaps acsin of the times?
Farage has commented on Border Force turning a blind eye. Could it be, at least in part, that they are all too well aware of the Covid-19 risk, and without PPE want to keep well away?
Alan – if you are referring to the Farage ‘day on the beaches’ it was not so much a comment but, compared to the absence of a single comment from Government – IT WAS A TOUR DEFORCE…………one single man, in a nutshell,showed the British people just exactly the sheer unadulterated madness which is leeching like a suicidal virus throughout our land.
“We will fight them on the beaches”……….what a disgrace we have become……we don’t even apprehend them on the beaches, let alone fight them.
We have descended into a bastardised State.
We have so diluted the spirit that once marked us out as a powerful force respected throughout the world, that we have become a laughing stock…….not only can we not control our borders, (even a single beach for Gods sake) we can’t even control ourselves.
We leave our old to the whims of Serial Asian Care Home Scammers, who calculatedly ‘take the money and run’ back to their corrupt ‘homelands’ leaving the Government to foot the bills, and old folk to die in despair.
What happened to the love and care we once gave willingly to our aged – Oh, yes – we can find the money for ‘State of the Art Everything’ phones, computers, computer-game crap, virtual reality nonsense, (and most of THAT Chinese crap!) overseas drunken holidaymaking – but ask someone to look after their Mums and Dads? Well -‘it’s not OUR responsibility they whimper’ it’s down to THE STATE, the Government, Somebody else, immigrant workers, scam-merchants and international fraudsters, who pollute our shores, and go skint with monotonous regularity and run away with the takings, like Back-Street Bookmakers used to do with our shillings and tanners if they lost the bet – remember those days? No, (You’ve no idea) Ah well – THAT’S what is happening now, except that the crooked Bookmakers have all become ‘Care Home Pirates’.
Yes, Farage gave us the wake-up call – and we FELL AT THE FIRST HURDLE.
A triumph of ‘New British’ Stupidity, Selfishness and Stupor.
Roll on!
“Death, where is thy sting” – why, in a care-home sayeth the Court Jester. CARE HOME? What a sick joke!
Fear not Priti has announced another crackdown.
We can expect Priti to be rolled out when the natives get a little restless on migration/border issues, but nothing will ever be done; its all carefully choreographed to fool the masses that the Tories are tough on immigration. The thing is the Tories are dab-hands at this and whilst they will not fool most of the readers and contributors on this site millions of people who are against mass immigration go and vote Tory despite all the evidence that they are a pro-mass immigration party.
Control of our borders was abandoned many years ago, with under-staffed Borders Agency, no vigorous plan of deportations, abandonment of recording departures! (no elaborate computer system needed, only tear-off cards like japan), systematic patrolling of the North Sea and Channel, requiring many more Coastguard ships than currently available. Elimination of “Rights” for illegals, cutting the legal system down to size etc etc. Some of us (though not sure about you Freddy) would like a national identity card system where anyone not officially registered would simply have no right to remain.
Ihre Papiere bitte!
Under no circumstances should we have a national identity card system. Such a card makes the holder the property of the state, as the state will issue these things. Britain is the land of the individual, and long may it remain so.
I too would like to see a national identity card system where anyone not officially registered would simply have no right to remain. This is simple common sense and unless this is introduced without further procrastination we will never be able to control immigration!
What the MSM doesn’t report on.
The constant stream of “refugees” from war-torn France, that arrive here having passed through numerous safe countries.
https://youtu.be/qBG4KvXpkOk
Common sense Freddy; something that is totally absent in government and those who welcome the invader. Governments who do show some common sense have rigorous visa requirements which are time limited but do not prevent those of us with legitimate reason from entering.
Of course it could be that it is intentional.
Freddy talks sense on this issue but neither sense nor reason will be employed or can be expected from a party that is unofficially committed to mass immigration legal or otherwise.
Meanwhile, resolve can be found to fine nine thousand British citizens who have breached lockdown rules in their own country.
https://www.itv.com/news/2020-04-30/more-than-9-000-fines-for-coronavirus-lockdown-breaches-in-england-and-wales/
If it’s just a question of attitude then this Government along with previous Governments have the wrong attitude, and a very bad one at that. There is no urgency to put a stop to this. I think Australia proved it could be done, by making loud and clear intent to turn back anyone who tried to enter, and following through on that intention. Mass immigration is a policy they all seem wedded to, and the new points system with its lowering of qualifications and salary threshold is just going to shuffle the deck chairs and nothing more. Far from taking back control of our borders they seem even more sieve like than before, and while under the UN Migration Compact, we never will have control. That, is the whole idea I think.
Everything that the UN does or stands for is detrimental to us. If government were on our side they would stop funding it.