I am seeing quite a
few comments about stories being kept out of the "mainstream media"
which relate to crimes undertaken by immigrants (or descendants of recent
immigrants) or of riots by migrants in other EU countries, notably around
Calais, on the basis that this will have a negative impact on the
"Remain" campaign. As someone
who both believes in free speech and will be voting remain, I thought I would
help provide some coverage.
Firstly, there is
the terrible case of child abuse in Yorkshire (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-36559092). A gang of 15 men, all of south Asian
heritage, have been sentenced to up to 25 years in jail for horrible crimes,
but I am struggling to see the connection with the EU referendum. None of those convicted appear to have any
connection with EU migration, nor is there any suggestion that any European
court will somehow stop them serving the sentence that the court in Leeds has
passed.
The second involves
the violence occurring in the migrants camps around Calais (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/21/british-tourist-captures-dramatic-footage-of-calais-police-clash/). This is a long standing issue and seems like
it is getting worse. The French do seem
to be struggling to deal with it, but again, I struggle to see what it has to
do with the EU Referendum? The people
who are rioting are not from Greece or Portugal. The reason they are in the camps in Calais is
precisely because they do not have free movement rights; they wish to come to
the UK but cannot. People speculate that
the French may become less diligent if the UK was to depart, but assuming they
abide by their treaty obligations, nothing will change following a "leave"
vote; they will remain in the camps and they will still wish to come to the UK.
The population flows
from South Asia, the Middle East and Africa pose massive issues. The recent report by the UN High Commissioner
for Refugees (http://www.unhcr.org/uk/news/latest/2016/6/5763b65a4/global-forced-displacement-hits-record-high.html)
shows migrants and displaced persons at record levels of 65m, greater than the
population of the UK. The last 2 years
has seen governments both within the EU and outside struggle to find solutions,
probably because there are no solutions that can be delivered easily, quickly
or without significant costs. Efforts to
date have been a muddled mix of policies as politicians have tried to "do
something" when they know they can do little beyond applying a sticking
plaster to gaping wound. Building a big
wall or blowing boats out of the water will not stop the flows of people; it
will just change the direction of travel.
Equally, letting unrestrained immigration into Europe will cause
instability and tensions of a different kind.
Again however I ask the question, what is this to do with the EU and the
desirability to stay in; those population flows will still happen. Norway and Switzerland are outside the EU and
face the same issues, and like them, a post-leave Britain would have to be
involved in what is happening.
There are many
arguments in both directions in regard the EU referendum; I happen to think we
should remain, others for perfectly rational reasons think we should leave. But
I do think it is dangerous to conflate a decision around economics, trade and
sovereignty with one about refugees, none of which originate from countries
within the EU. Wishing to restrict free movement of labour from EU countries is
a valid economic and political objective, but there is no reason to connect
that with flows of migration caused by war and famine from countries in the
Middle East and Africa. Departing the EU cannot have any impact on such
flows. Are there refugees who are
criminals? Of course there are. Will the barbarity of what they have gone
through make them more inclined to criminality? Quite probably. But there are
criminals in every population; being a bad person is not related race, religion
or country of origin. Just as the vast majority England football fans are not violent, racist
thugs, most refugees are not sex offenders, but in both cases there are some
who are.
So if you think for
reasons of sovereignty, economics and law making that Britain should leave the
EU, then vote "Leave"; I don't agree with you, but that is what this
referendum is about. Don't however vote
out because you are concerned about the refugee crisis around the
Mediterranean; whichever way you vote
will not alter that in the slightest.
Nick
No comments:
Post a Comment