Britain has always provided a welcome for those fleeing persecution in their home countries. From the Huguenots in the 16th century to the Afghans and Ukrainians of the 21st century. Britain has also rightly prided itself on providing a new home for millions who have arrived to work hard and build new lives for themselves. However, this ability to offer a welcome is dependent on being able to have some control on the numbers coming. Across the world, 700 million people earn less each week than those on the minimum wage in the UK earn in one hour. We unfortunately cannot allow all those who want a better life to come to the UK. The ability of some to pay money to people smugglers to travel over here by inflatable boats from France - a perfectly safe country - undermines confidence in our immigration rules. The UK Government proposal is that those who have arrived illegally, but say they are fleeing oppression, can have their cases dealt with in a perfectly safe third country. This policy will end the incentive for people to hand over money to people smugglers and risk their lives on small boats in order to get to the UK from France. It is a deterrent designed to reduce deaths in the English Channel and prevent people smugglers from making millions. It is also designed to restore confidence in our immigration system. I am aware there have been some protests about this policy. My response is to ask those complaining what their preferred option is. I have yet to hear anything very coherent.
The largest rail strike in 30 years, which Labour frontbenchers have backed, is underway after last-ditch talks between unions and rail bosses failed. This reckless action will shut down the UK’s transport system and disrupt the lives of millions of passengers. The unions are harming the very people they claim to be helping. By going ahead with these strikes, they are driving away commuters who ultimately support the jobs of rail workers. What we need is a modernised railway instead of carrying on paying for working practices that date in some cases to the 19th century. During my time as a special constable with the British Transport Police, I had to do regular track training. One of the changes the UK Government wants to bring in is better use of technology, such as cameras, to reduce the number of workers walking up and down the railway lines. We shouldn’t be employing people in a dangerous job when there is a safer way of doing it. These are the sorts of modernising maintenance practices rail companies want but the unions keep blocking.
*Published in the Monmouthshire Beacon on 22 June 2022 and the Abergavenny Chronicle on 23 June 2022*