News that British taxpayers have forked out for asylum seekers to gamble using prepaid cards angers me.
There’s not much more I can say. We’re constantly told these people are all genuinely fleeing persecution, that they aren’t economic migrants or benefits tourists.
But when you read a story like this, it’s hard to conclude differently. Why are they given cash cards and all the freedoms that comes with it? Are they offered this in France? Or do the French give them only the most basic food and board?
I’ve long argued the reason people choose to come to Britain in small boats is because there are so many pull factors in place. That they think they’ll be better off here than in other safe countries. When British taxpayers are forking out for them to gamble and have more than the occasional flutter, this proves this is the case.
If the conditions were same here as in France, let alone worse, these people would not come.
And no, the answer is not to let them work. This too would be disastrous. It would, effectively, legalise the black market, creating blanket work visas for anyone who wishes to enter Britain illegally. This would be both unsustainable and deeply unfair on British workers.
The answer is to take a much tougher approach. To make the accommodation the most basic it can be. Remove entitlements to welfare, the NHS and public services. If they riot or cause trouble, punish them. Don’t capitulate and give them better housing.
We also need to radically reform our asylum laws. Many of them need to go. We cannot go on having an endless web of legal loopholes and grounds for appeal, under which the whole process can be dragged out for years. Decisions must be made quickly. And they must be final. Enough is enough.
The British people’s generosity has been exploited for too long. People are not willing to be patient any longer. And rightly so.
NOTE: Link to the original article can be found here