UK benefits are migrant magnet
PIF THE drowning of so many people in a small boat from France this week doesn’t make everyone understand the urgency of stopping this problem then nothing will.
It is clear the French authorities have no intention of taking the action required to stop the crossings, and the Government’s attempts to change the laws to address the problem through the Nationality and Borders Bill are going to take many more months before passing through Parliament.
So how about the Government takes some immediate action on some of the factors encouraging people over here from France – starting with the benefits system?
Asylum seekers who arrive in the UK are given free accommodation and £39.63 per week per person on a payment card for food, clothing and toiletries.
However, you might be astonished to read on the government website what is offered to people who are refused asylum – ie people judged to be not fleeing persecution and therefore in effect an illegal immigrant.The website states: “If you’ve been refused asylum you will be given somewhere to live and £39.63 on a payment card for food, clothing and toiletries.” So you are given exactly
the same when you are deemed an illegal immigrant as those whose asylum applications are still being processed!
To rub salt into the wound it goes on to say: “You will not be given the payment card if you do not take the offer of somewhere to live.”
Am I alone in thinking this is
madness with stilts on? Surely the moment you have been refused asylum and therefore deemed an illegal immigrant, all state support should be removed. No wonder people are wanting to get here from France in droves, and are prepared to risk their lives to do so.
This is something the Government needs to change straight away.