Everyone has the right to pursue a better life. Whatever the merits of each migrant’s claim for residency in the UK, rounding humans up and flying them 4,300 miles to Rwanda for “processing” is not the United Kingdom we are or should seek to become. The UK Government has outlined plans to send migrants, deemed to have gained entry to our country unlawfully, to Rwanda, a country in central Africa.
The government aims to deter migrants from seeking unlawful entry to the UK and so this costly policy has been announced and is due to be implemented imminently. I can’t begin to imagine the pain and anguish some migrants have faced in fleeing danger and persecution. We should be a country that provides a home to as many as is practicable.
As a politician, I hear from residents in my communities who desperately need suitable housing, and so we can’t simply open the gates to unlimited numbers of migrants as our own public services are so desperately stretched. Of course, there are gangs who are exploiting the desperation of migrants and operate illegal ferry trips, often from France, to our shores, using inflatable dinghies. Migrants are funding these gangs, often through a forlorn attempt to escape the plight they find themselves in.
Read more: The latest Met Office forecast for Wales as heavy rain and strong winds to arrive
When we watch the news and see the unfolding scenes of humans in such a hopeless state, it should fill us with a sense of duty to help them. I’ve been in politics for many years and I know there will be some who advocate divide-and-conquer policies – the notion of pitching one group against another. Surely it’s time to move on from policies seeking to inflame beliefs and benefit from misguided narratives? Tell us what you think in the comments section.
The government’s plans to fly migrants halfway across the world for processing is deeply erroneous and resources should instead be focused on tackling the organised criminal gangs who profit from human suffering. Readers are right to ask for my solution to this situation. Migrants deemed to have gained entry to our country unlawfully should be processed in the UK and not exposed to the already publicised risks of being sent to Rwanda for processing. Readers may wish to explore our own Foreign Office’s advice to travellers considering visiting Rwanda.
It goes without saying that France is a safe country and the UK Government is right to encourage migrants to pursue legitimate means of applying for residency and/or asylum in the UK. Working constructively with the French government should be a priority. Developed countries should support nations facing difficulty and take an uncompromising approach to nations that have questionable human rights abuses. Stay updated on the latest political analysis by signing up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
It’s often said the most important asset a parent has is their child. For a parent to be placed in an almost impossible situation, where they give their child to a stranger to make the often dangerous final journey to the UK, must be an immensely gut-wrenching decision. For a parent, hoping their child will have a more prosperous future in our country should be matched with understanding and a desire to improve the support available. And any child arriving should be met with compassion and empathy.
Those who are critical of lawyers and human rights organisations challenging the UK Government should be grateful we live in a country where such challenges can take place, for they certainly wouldn’t find it in Rwanda. Citizens in Rwanda crave the human rights and protections that are afforded to us in our country.
Despite the concerns raised, the UK Government remains determined to press ahead with the scheme and defend challenges against it in court. Those who support the scheme, and simply state that it’s not illegal to send migrants to Rwanda, should perhaps consider that just because something is not illegal does not mean we should do it. Read how people in Wales reacted to the pictures of the Rwandan hostel rooms here.
This isn’t a game of snakes and ladders. The UK Government, in seeking to implement this policy, would be amplifying the detrimental state many migrants are in. In the same way we don’t punish victims, we should be focused on bringing the criminal gangs to justice.
Can I honestly say that if I found myself facing the plight many migrants face, that I wouldn’t pay a criminal to try to gain entry to our country? No, I can’t, and I can understand why migrants use criminal schemes to try to pursue a life so many of us are deeply fortunate to already have.
Politicians fight for votes and crave the support of the electorate; without it, we won’t get elected. The UK Government can win over the support of voters who have legitimate concerns about unlawful migration by tackling organised criminal gangs who exploit migrants for personal gain. The UK Government’s focus should be on taking the criminals out of the equation and working with the French authorities to prevent dangerous vessels from departing French shores.
Conservative MPs shouldn’t be afraid to call out policies that set our party on a dangerous path away from progressive politics. It is neither disloyal nor perfidious to question misguided schemes, especially those which will bring about further harm and anguish to those who already have so little.
Joel Williams is a Conservative member of Cardiff council and a former runner-up in Big Brother.
