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Calais migrants 'crisis': what the national press reports - and thinks Calais migrants 'crisis': what the national press reports - and thinks
(34 minutes later)
One story dominates the national press today: the attempts by migrants massed in Calais to smuggle themselves aboard lorries in order to get through the Channel tunnel and into Britain.One story dominates the national press today: the attempts by migrants massed in Calais to smuggle themselves aboard lorries in order to get through the Channel tunnel and into Britain.
The headlines, many on front pages, imply that the matter has reached crisis proportions. Consider these: Daily Express (We can’t stop migrant chaos), Daily Mail (350 Calais stowaways turfed off lorries in four hours), Daily Telegraph (Migrants beat Calais security despite ‘search of every lorry’), Sun (Growing migrant crisis: Farceport controls), Daily Mirror (Unleash the dogs on Calais migrants), Times (950 migrants held at Calais in a day), Metro (Drivers fear for their lives in migrant cahos at Calais), Daily Star (‘Calais crisis lets Isis sneak terror nuts into Britain’) and the Guardian (‘I got on three lorries and was dragged off by the police, but I will keep trying’).The headlines, many on front pages, imply that the matter has reached crisis proportions. Consider these: Daily Express (We can’t stop migrant chaos), Daily Mail (350 Calais stowaways turfed off lorries in four hours), Daily Telegraph (Migrants beat Calais security despite ‘search of every lorry’), Sun (Growing migrant crisis: Farceport controls), Daily Mirror (Unleash the dogs on Calais migrants), Times (950 migrants held at Calais in a day), Metro (Drivers fear for their lives in migrant cahos at Calais), Daily Star (‘Calais crisis lets Isis sneak terror nuts into Britain’) and the Guardian (‘I got on three lorries and was dragged off by the police, but I will keep trying’).
As for the leading articles, let me start with the Guardian’s, which sets those news page headlines in a sober context.As for the leading articles, let me start with the Guardian’s, which sets those news page headlines in a sober context.
Arguing that the EU requires a shared strategy to quell growing anxiety, it begins by pointing out that the scenes in Calais “feed the prevailing narrative of fear about illegal immigration to Europe in general, and to Britain in particular”. It continues:Arguing that the EU requires a shared strategy to quell growing anxiety, it begins by pointing out that the scenes in Calais “feed the prevailing narrative of fear about illegal immigration to Europe in general, and to Britain in particular”. It continues:
“Do not dismiss the political potency of the scenes or the use to which they may be put. Yet the facts are significantly at odds with the fears... In the first place, the migrants outside Calais are overwhelmingly fleeing war, oppression and poverty in search of opportunity and security.“Do not dismiss the political potency of the scenes or the use to which they may be put. Yet the facts are significantly at odds with the fears... In the first place, the migrants outside Calais are overwhelmingly fleeing war, oppression and poverty in search of opportunity and security.
More than 3,000 have been living in increasingly squalid conditions in a makeshift camp outside the French port. But they are there because they are unable to get to Britain, not because Britain is easy to enter...More than 3,000 have been living in increasingly squalid conditions in a makeshift camp outside the French port. But they are there because they are unable to get to Britain, not because Britain is easy to enter...
As both David Cameron and Theresa May made clear, France and Britain have cooperated well. There was no mass break-in to Britain.As both David Cameron and Theresa May made clear, France and Britain have cooperated well. There was no mass break-in to Britain.
More important, the scenes at Calais are very untypical of illegal migration into the UK. Most illegal migrants do not hide under trucks, throw themselves at passing Eurostar trains, submit to being locked in airless containers or conceal themselves in the baggage holds of airliners.More important, the scenes at Calais are very untypical of illegal migration into the UK. Most illegal migrants do not hide under trucks, throw themselves at passing Eurostar trains, submit to being locked in airless containers or conceal themselves in the baggage holds of airliners.
Instead they enter Britain legally and openly on flights into Heathrow airport on visas that they then breach by overstaying”.Instead they enter Britain legally and openly on flights into Heathrow airport on visas that they then breach by overstaying”.
Now, in the light of that assessment, let’s look at editorials elsewhere. The Times believes the migration crisis is in danger of creating serious social tensions across Europe. So “the aim of a cogent response must be to reverse the tide”.Now, in the light of that assessment, let’s look at editorials elsewhere. The Times believes the migration crisis is in danger of creating serious social tensions across Europe. So “the aim of a cogent response must be to reverse the tide”.
It contends that an EU plan based on setting up permanent camps in Greece and Italy to process migrants “is misconceived and fundamentally flawed”.It contends that an EU plan based on setting up permanent camps in Greece and Italy to process migrants “is misconceived and fundamentally flawed”.
It agrees that most of the migrants entering Europe “are propelled by war and terror in Syria, Afghanistan and Eritrea” or “are pulled from sub-Saharan Africa by the prospect of wages in Europe’s grey economies that would be unimaginable in their own countries”.It agrees that most of the migrants entering Europe “are propelled by war and terror in Syria, Afghanistan and Eritrea” or “are pulled from sub-Saharan Africa by the prospect of wages in Europe’s grey economies that would be unimaginable in their own countries”.
But “rewarding” those migrants who wish to stay in Europe “is undesirable”. Instead, migrants must be turned round. It continues:But “rewarding” those migrants who wish to stay in Europe “is undesirable”. Instead, migrants must be turned round. It continues:
“What Europe needs are robust border controls and a coherent strategy for reversing the flow of illegal immigration at its many sources. This will require much closer engagement with some of the world’s poorest governments, but also facilities to shelter the vulnerable and distinguish between legitimate asylum seekers and economic migrants.“What Europe needs are robust border controls and a coherent strategy for reversing the flow of illegal immigration at its many sources. This will require much closer engagement with some of the world’s poorest governments, but also facilities to shelter the vulnerable and distinguish between legitimate asylum seekers and economic migrants.
These facilities must be located in the region where the crisis is unfolding, but, crucially, they must be in Africa, not Europe...These facilities must be located in the region where the crisis is unfolding, but, crucially, they must be in Africa, not Europe...
Human rights activists do not have a monopoly on compassion for desperate people seeking a better life. Instead, Europe’s leaders must try to make sure through the use of targeted aid that these people have better lives at home.Human rights activists do not have a monopoly on compassion for desperate people seeking a better life. Instead, Europe’s leaders must try to make sure through the use of targeted aid that these people have better lives at home.
The tide will only turn when migrants report back to their families that the journey is not worth it”.The tide will only turn when migrants report back to their families that the journey is not worth it”.
The Telegraph, in a leader headlined “Europe’s porous borders are beyond our control”, thinks “it is the responsibility of the EU country in which a migrant claiming asylum arrives to process their application”.The Telegraph, in a leader headlined “Europe’s porous borders are beyond our control”, thinks “it is the responsibility of the EU country in which a migrant claiming asylum arrives to process their application”.
It is unimpressed by the call by the mayor of Calais to insist that the UK should adopt the Schengen (open borders) agreement. “This is just a game of diplomatic pass-the-parcel,” says the paper.It is unimpressed by the call by the mayor of Calais to insist that the UK should adopt the Schengen (open borders) agreement. “This is just a game of diplomatic pass-the-parcel,” says the paper.
“If all the migrants gathered in Calais were allowed across the Channel, then Britain would have to bear the considerable cost of processing asylum applications, though since many are principally looking for work they would simply disappear into the black economy”.“If all the migrants gathered in Calais were allowed across the Channel, then Britain would have to bear the considerable cost of processing asylum applications, though since many are principally looking for work they would simply disappear into the black economy”.
The Telegraph therefore wants to see Britain institute a four-point plan: the elimination of free health care for immigrants; the documentation of people arriving in Italy and Greece; action “to stop the flood of migrants through Africa to the Mediterranean”; and a revision by the EU of its “no-borders” policy.The Telegraph therefore wants to see Britain institute a four-point plan: the elimination of free health care for immigrants; the documentation of people arriving in Italy and Greece; action “to stop the flood of migrants through Africa to the Mediterranean”; and a revision by the EU of its “no-borders” policy.
The Mail simply blames the French for the problem, accusing the country of hypocrisy for, allegedly, doing all it can “to lure migrants to the Channel coast, tempting them to cross to the UK”.The Mail simply blames the French for the problem, accusing the country of hypocrisy for, allegedly, doing all it can “to lure migrants to the Channel coast, tempting them to cross to the UK”.
“Before they blame us for encouraging the boat people to journey hundreds of miles across France”, says the Mail, “they should look at a map”.“Before they blame us for encouraging the boat people to journey hundreds of miles across France”, says the Mail, “they should look at a map”.
And the Express takes a similar line: “The response of French policy-makers”, it says, has “left a lot to be desired. Yet again rather than facing up to their responsibilities they tried to pin the blame on us.And the Express takes a similar line: “The response of French policy-makers”, it says, has “left a lot to be desired. Yet again rather than facing up to their responsibilities they tried to pin the blame on us.
Britaibn must not be saddled with the thousands of migrants who, “due to the ineffectiveness of the French police, have been allowed to settle in Calais. This is madness... Pointing the finger at Britain will do nothing to resolve a crisis that has rapidly got out of hand”. Britain must not be saddled with the thousands of migrants who, “due to the ineffectiveness of the French police, have been allowed to settle in Calais. This is madness... Pointing the finger at Britain will do nothing to resolve a crisis that has rapidly got out of hand”.
The Sun appears uncertain about what should be done and throws up its hands in despair:The Sun appears uncertain about what should be done and throws up its hands in despair:
“The government says human rights laws prevent it from sending illegals back to broke Greece. Now Hungary has pulled out of the deal altogether. At every turn Britain’s options are narrowing”.“The government says human rights laws prevent it from sending illegals back to broke Greece. Now Hungary has pulled out of the deal altogether. At every turn Britain’s options are narrowing”.
So let me return to the Guardian leader, which calls on EU leaders to “rise to the occasion” which they have failed to do previously “largely from fear of domestic political consequences”. It concludes:So let me return to the Guardian leader, which calls on EU leaders to “rise to the occasion” which they have failed to do previously “largely from fear of domestic political consequences”. It concludes:
“It is time for Europe both to admit the scale of the migration tragedy and to accept greater responsibility towards some of its victims... According to the United Nations, the world faces its largest number of displaced persons in modern times, with nearly 4 million refugees from the crisis in Syria alone...“It is time for Europe both to admit the scale of the migration tragedy and to accept greater responsibility towards some of its victims... According to the United Nations, the world faces its largest number of displaced persons in modern times, with nearly 4 million refugees from the crisis in Syria alone...
According to the UN, the EU could easily take 1 million of these refugees. This is true in theory if not in political practice. Yet this week, the EU’s leaders will agree to accept a mere 60,000. Britain prioritises hunting and destroying the smugglers’ boats in Libya to searching for and rescuing the smugglers’ abandoned victims.According to the UN, the EU could easily take 1 million of these refugees. This is true in theory if not in political practice. Yet this week, the EU’s leaders will agree to accept a mere 60,000. Britain prioritises hunting and destroying the smugglers’ boats in Libya to searching for and rescuing the smugglers’ abandoned victims.
Yet there is a place for both a coercive and a humanitarian approach. There must also be a recognition that this is a shared challenge for Europe, and that a shared solution is the only realistic approach”.Yet there is a place for both a coercive and a humanitarian approach. There must also be a recognition that this is a shared challenge for Europe, and that a shared solution is the only realistic approach”.