Immigration Crisis, getting what we deserve? Options

[Andy Capp]

Anyone feel that the current much reported immigration issue is an example of doing something when we shouldn't (Iraq) and not doing something when we should (Syria)? Or is is this a more complex and multifaceted issue. People see what an open society we have compared to their own lot and want a taste of it too? An unintended consequence of an open boarder policy?

[Sherlock]

Surely the debate over terminology is relevant to the current crisis? The conditions in Europe must be drawing people seeking a better life, who are from regions where their rights are not endangered, as well as genuine asylum seekers whose lives are threatened of they stay where they are.

We need some migrants to keep our economy working but how many and with what skills? And how many genuine asylum seekers can we afford to take? Probably far more than we are currently taking but there surely must be a limit?

It seems to me that we need to put an organised, controlled system in place and that building higher fences around the Calais terminals and providing more sniffer dogs is not the answer. We also need to deter the opportunists who we don't need here. Surely we should make it clear that anyone who enters the country illegally will be returned to their country of origin (or a friendly third country which is willing to take them, perhaps for payment), regardless of their status. Genuine asylum seekers and those wanting to work here will be processed at the borders.

I can see this would be difficult but what other options do we have? Should we accept all comers and be done with it? Seems to me that Cameron and May are burying their heads in the sand, pandering to public opinion and applying sticking plaster measures or suggesting measures which are impossible to implement such as May's suggestion that only economic migrants who already have job offers should be allowed to come here.

This entire situation is very like the crisis facing the NHS - for one reason or another there is no proper debate and we only talk about symptoms or emotive aspects of the problem.