Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

ASYLUM REALITY CHECK

I am sure that, like me, there are many days in which you think the world has gone stark raving mad. And then something happens to confirm it.

Like the letter I received a week or two ago from a group of well-meaning charities in Devon and Cornwall asking for my help to lobby for extra resources for asylum seekers who have been ultimately refused leave to remain. I pondered this for a moment. It could only have referred to people who have come here, claimed asylum and gone through all of the various channels of appeal and still had their applications turned down. Which presumably meant they were not genuine asylum seekers at all, but were trying to access this country under false pretences.

And I was being asked to help secure more funding from the government (i.e. taxpayer) to support them!

One of the biggest challenges facing us is the constant pressure from people who wish to live in the United Kingdom. We all agree that we should be big-hearted enough to offer a home to those who are genuinely fleeing persecution. I have never met anyone who does not think that. But even a cursory examination of the figures over the last five years tells us that the vast majority of asylum claimants do not fall into that category, but simply wish to come and live here because it is better than where they come from. Many of them hand over their meagre life savings to human traffickers to get them to our shores in search of a better life.
I don’t blame them, but the answer must be a firm no. You cannot come in. Why? Because this small island is already pretty full; because we dare not upset the delicate balance between indigenous dwellers and migrants; because if we do not have a robust system the numbers applying will soar.

There is a need to attract skilled people here who want to work and contribute to our economy as, say, nurses and teachers. That is a completely separate matter and should not get mixed up with asylum seekers. Even then we should be much more robust in requiring integration, but that is the subject for another day.
So back to my letter. No, I wrote back very swiftly and firmly. If, after a proper and fair assessment, any claimant has been refused leave to remain, he must return home.

posted by Nigel on Friday, October 15, 2004