Suella Braverman
The British government came under further scrutiny on Sunday after six migrants drowned in the English Channel and 59 were rescued when their ship capsized off the coast of France.
Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, said she spoke with UK Border Force teams about the tragic loss of lives.
The Labour Party and campaigners have reiterated their efforts for the government to address the small boat issue, in which migrants are using dangerous vessels to enter the UK illegally.
On social media, Braverman wrote, “My thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the tragic loss of life in the Channel today. This morning I spoke with our Border Force teams who have been supporting the French authorities in response to this incident”.
“This incident is sadly another reminder of the extreme dangers of crossing the Channel in small boats and how vital it is that we break the people smugglers’ business model and stop the boats”, a UK government spokesperson said.
Stephen Kinnock, Labour’s shadow immigration minister, accused the government of having no workable plan to fix the refugee system.
“It’s time to put an end to the small boat nightmare; we can’t stand by while more lives are lost. The country deserves better than this”, he continued.
Former Tory chairman Jake Berry called for radical changes to turn the tide on the issue, putting pressure on the Conservative Party government.
“We have a moral duty to act, both to our own citizens and to those seeking asylum”, he added.
Meanwhile, human rights organizations are pressing the government to open more safe passageways for asylum seekers to the UK, with the Refugee Council saying that “more people will die” unless immediate action is taken.
“This terrible loss of life demonstrates yet again the need for a system of safe passage to the UK for refugees”, stated Care4Calais, a refugee organisation.
The event occurred following a reaction to the UK government’s intention to lodge asylum seekers on a barge parked in south-west England after the first group of migrants had to be withdrawn just days after being placed in due to concerns about harmful diseases.
The Bibby Stockholm, a large floating vessel stationed in Portland, Dorset, welcomed its first group of migrants earlier this week amid controversy, with human rights groups questioning the vessel’s fitness as a long-term shelter.
The administration, on the other hand, claimed that it was a necessary component of its strategy to handle the growing taxpayer-funded hotel expenses for refugees while their asylum claims are processed.
However, on Friday, it was revealed that bacteria that causes legionnaires’ disease, a type of pneumonia, had been discovered in the water supply, necessitating the relocation of all 39 refugees.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has designated ‘stop the boats’ one of his government’s main goals, vowing to crack down on people traffickers who help migrants land illegally on British beaches.
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