National Politics 🔴 The Labour Party

[holdsteady]

Might not be needing Farage now Two Tier has joined us on the far right.

 

[QR]

Might not be needing Farage now Two Tier has joined us on the far right.

Don't you believe it. If net migration came down to zero Farage and his gang would move seamlessly onto to the next racists dog whistle 'cause'. And the cult will follow him without question and with no realization of how they are being played.

 

[Basham Wonderland]

Don't you believe it. If net migration came down to zero Farage and his gang would move seamlessly onto to the next racists dog whistle 'cause'. And the cult will follow him without question and with no realization of how they are being played.

If only we were smart enough to understand what you can understand.

I just believe whatever Rupert Murdoch tells me

 

[Basham Wonderland]

Anyway, time to open up my paper and check what Murdoch wants me to believe today...

 

[Marston Road Yellow]

If only we were smart enough to understand what you can understand.

I just believe whatever Rupert Murdoch tells me

Oh well maybe one day you’ll wake up and see the light…

 

[Londox]

If only we were smart enough to understand what you can understand.

I just believe whatever Rupert Murdoch tells me

Don't pretend we can actually read newspapers. We just turn straight to page 3 before screaming "WHY MUST THE WOKE TAKE AWAY ALL THATS GOOD" before stomping down to Greggs for our breakfast of three steak bakes and a cup of strong tea.

 

[Londox]

Little image of @Basham Wonderland and I with our pre-match ritual.

 

[holdsteady]

Little image of @Basham Wonderland and I with our pre-match ritual.

View attachment 27152

In a spoons before you have your Gammon and chips?

 

[Marston Road Yellow]

Unfortunately my uber cool 35 mm camera won’t take selfies. And I’m too woke and liberal to use a smartphone. My children Ursula and Tarquinius are also too busy in Waitrose reading the guardian to take a selfie…..

 

[Londox]

In a spoons before you have your Gammon and chips?

Bash usually goes Steak and Kidney pie. He worries the Gammon could be a dodgy European import.

I play it safe with fish and chips. No curry sauce.

 

[holdsteady]

Unfortunately my uber cool 35 mm camera won’t take selfies. And I’m too woke and liberal to use a smartphone. My children Ursula and Tarquinius are also too busy in Waitrose reading the guardian to take a selfie…..

I like the way your kids are giving it to the man by reading the paper for free in Waitrose rather than buying it.

 

[Essexyellows]

On the point about deporting migrants, since Labour came into power there has been 24,103 people removed from the UK, and increase of 11% on the previous year. This includes a 21% increase in the number of enforced removals. There was a 16% increase in the number of Foreign National Offenders, and a 23% increase in the number of failed asylum seekers being removed.

Considering the mess that the immigration system had got into, with tens of thousands not been processed under the Tories, I would suggest that this is a decent start.

Note you never mentioned the number of voluntary departures.

And 24k is somewhat offset by ............."as of April 28, 2025, the total number of people who have crossed the Channel in small boats is 10,250. "

SKS says that all LEGAL migrants will require "good English"........... good news.

And the ones whose only word is "Asylum" as they step off the boat?

 

[Scotchegg]

Note you never mentioned the number of voluntary departures.

What you don't understand about this is that voluntary departures are not those who just pack their bags and leave of their own volition. These are those subject to deportation who agree to leave without a fight (legally and sometimes physically). This means that they leave earlier and at a significantly lower cost than those who are subject to "forced removal".

And 24k is somewhat offset by ............."as of April 28, 2025, the total number of people who have crossed the Channel in small boats is 10,250. "

Of course it us, which is why I said that this was a good start rather than a solution. For the last few years of their term, the Tories all but stopped processing asylum claims in the hope that huge numbers in hotels would force the Lords to approve the Rwanda scheme. But, like so many things they did, that failed and we were left with the situation where tens of thousands of unknown asylum seekers needed to be held somewhere whilst the system is fixed.

These figures suggest that the system is beginning to work with greater levels of deportations in every category so far, and this is likely to increase further once we clear the backlog of claims.

As one of the "kick them out" brigade, I thought that you would welcome this?

 

[Marston Road Yellow]

I like the way your kids are giving it to the man by reading the paper for free in Waitrose rather than buying it.

I only shop there for the free coffee and a read of the papers….. and of course the shopping bags so I can feel superior in Aldi

 

[holdsteady]

I only shop there for the free coffee and a read of the papers….. and of course the shopping bags so I can feel superior in Aldi

I feel a bit guilty about the downfall of WH Smith’s, I killed a fair bit of time in there reading magazines that I have never bought while waiting to go somewhere.

 

[QR]

I feel a bit guilty about the downfall of WH Smith’s, I killed a fair bit of time in there reading magazines that I have never bought while waiting to go somewhere.

They didn't mind the reading it was the w**king that was turning the customers away.

 

[holdsteady]

They didn't mind the reading it was the w**king that was turning the customers away.

Even though I used my special sock?

 

[QR]

Even though I used my special sock?

For modest or comic effect?

 

[RgYellows]

I like the way your kids are giving it to the man by reading the paper for free in Waitrose rather than buying it.

And too hipster to read it for free online.

 

[Marston Road Yellow]

And too hipster to read it for free online.

That’s because my beard and home brew beer would get in the way

 

[Essexyellows]

As one of the "kick them out" brigade, I thought that you would welcome this?

Remind where I said "kick out" legal migrants?

My issue is the tens of thousands of primarily young men arriving into the UK illegally and the associated costs from putting them up to what we pay to France to stop them (or not).

Between 2020 and September 2024 there have been 175,000 illegal arrivals into the UK, 78% by small boats.

They are the problem nobody wants to discuss, nobody will deal with robustly and certain people just shrug their shoulders at.

 

[Scotchegg]

Remind where I said "kick out" legal migrants?

My issue is the tens of thousands of primarily young men arriving into the UK illegally and the associated costs from putting them up to what we pay to France to stop them (or not).

Between 2020 and September 2024 there have been 175,000 illegal arrivals into the UK, 78% by small boats.

They are the problem nobody wants to discuss, nobody will deal with robustly and certain people just shrug their shoulders at.

Its literally the problem we were discussing and there has been a significant increase in the numbers of these being deported since Labour took over.

I'll remind you again. 11% increase in total removals. 21% increase in enforced removals. 16% increase in the removal of Foreign National Offenders. 23% increase in the removal of failed asylum seekers.

And all of this on the back of an immigration service that had been ripped apart under the last administration.

Why are you so determined to ignore this?

 

[Sharp Edges]

Its literally the problem we were discussing and there has been a significant increase in the numbers of these being deported since Labour took over.

I'll remind you again. 11% increase in total removals. 21% increase in enforced removals. 16% increase in the removal of Foreign National Offenders. 23% increase in the removal of failed asylum seekers.

And all of this on the back of an immigration service that had been ripped apart under the last administration.

Why are you so determined to ignore this?

Starmer said he would smash the gangs, why would he be pouring money and resource into an immigration service that wouldnt be needed if he was telling the truth?

 

[Scotchegg]

Starmer said he would smash the gangs, why would he be pouring money and resource into an immigration service that wouldnt be needed if he was telling the truth?

What??!!!

Has ANYONE ever said that there would be zero immigration?! Or that people wouldn't travel independently without the help of gangs?

Yes we need to stop people travelling at source, and that means breaking up the people smuggling gangs. But that doesn't happen overnight and needs to involvement of multiple international agencies.

We also need to quickly and effectively process those that do arrive. And for that you need a properly resourced and supported immigration service. But sadly, this was almost destroyed under the Tories along with so many other public services.

You can't just flick a switch to get these back up to full speed. Recruiting, training and developing the staff to ensure that applications are processed in conjunction with the law and within a timely fashion can take years.

The fact that we're beginning to see some improvements in a relatively short period should be something to celebrate.

 

[Essexyellows]

Separate LEGAL from ILLEGAL.
If we have "limited resources" then focus on the illegal stuff first.

When/if that is under control, not escalating, then look at the legal stuff.

Use the skilled staff to "smash the gangs" whilst training the new folk to process the legal arrivals.

An "11% increase in total removals" is p*ssing in the wind if the number coming in increases by 20%,30% or more....

If you want a lesson in how to have a robust, legal process to obtain a visa just look at Australia.

And then see how they deal with illegal arrivals..... mandatory detention for an indefinite period and offshore processing, which some call "inhumane", but..... .
since it started,drownings at sea no longer occur and irregular migration by boat to its shores has completely stopped.

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2016/593517/EPRS_BRI(2016)593517_EN.pdf

 

[Scotchegg]

Separate LEGAL from ILLEGAL.
If we have "limited resources" then focus on the illegal stuff first.

When/if that is under control, not escalating, then look at the legal stuff.

Use the skilled staff to "smash the gangs" whilst training the new folk to process the legal arrivals.

An "11% increase in total removals" is p*ssing in the wind if the number coming in increases by 20%,30% or more....

If you want a lesson in how to have a robust, legal process to obtain a visa just look at Australia.

And then see how they deal with illegal arrivals..... mandatory detention for an indefinite period and offshore processing, which some call "inhumane", but..... .
since it started,drownings at sea no longer occur and irregular migration by boat to its shores has completely stopped.

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/BRIE/2016/593517/EPRS_BRI(2016)593517_EN.pdf

If ever there is a case for showing that "cut and paste" is not the same as properly understanding something!

 

[Sharp Edges]

What??!!!

Has ANYONE ever said that there would be zero immigration?! Or that people wouldn't travel independently without the help of gangs?

Yes we need to stop people travelling at source, and that means breaking up the people smuggling gangs. But that doesn't happen overnight and needs to involvement of multiple international agencies.

We also need to quickly and effectively process those that do arrive. And for that you need a properly resourced and supported immigration service. But sadly, this was almost destroyed under the Tories along with so many other public services.

You can't just flick a switch to get these back up to full speed. Recruiting, training and developing the staff to ensure that applications are processed in conjunction with the law and within a timely fashion can take years.

The fact that we're beginning to see some improvements in a relatively short period should be something to celebrate.

Calm down petal theres no need to shout, you have miss understood my post.

I didnt mean there would be no need for an immigration service, I meant there would be no need to pour time, resource and boat loads of cash into the service if the numbers were drastically reduced as Starmer promised. The fact this is being done is a pretty good pointer that he isnt smashing anything anytime soon.

I personally dont think lies, failure and spending loads of tax payers money in the process is something to celebrate but if you think it is then you crack on.

PS. The way you talk down to posters with an opinion different to you is not a nice trait you have.

 

[Scotchegg]

Calm down petal theres no need to shout, you have miss understood my post.

I didnt mean there would be no need for an immigration service, I meant there would be no need to pour time, resource and boat loads of cash into the service if the numbers were drastically reduced as Starmer promised. The fact this is being done is a pretty good pointer that he isnt smashing anything anytime soon.

I personally dont think lies, failure and spending loads of tax payers money in the process is something to celebrate but if you think it is then you crack on.

PS. The way you talk down to posters with an opinion different to you is not a nice trait you have.

Oh the old, "we're all entitled to an opinion, but I don't like yours" trick petal!

I'm not sure what lies, failures and spending loads of tax payers money you're upset about. But "smashing the gangs" was never going to be a quick fix and takes multi international agencies to address. You can't say that because people are still travelling by boats that this has failed as its far more complex than that.

The immigration system already has tens of thousands of unprocessed asylum applications to work through, whilst these same people are housed in hotels at huge expense.

So even if there wasn't a single extra boat journey, there would still need to be a major overhaul of the current system to clear what we already have. And this is far cheaper than leaving people in hotels for years on end. But if you want to ignore the issues at stake then you can equally crack on.

 

[Londox]

Starmer said he would smash the gangs, why would he be pouring money and resource into an immigration service that wouldnt be needed if he was telling the truth?

It's amusing how the language of Farage which once appalled Labour has now become one of their phrases! .

We have had about 5 successive government's who talk tough on immigration. Then you see the figures at the end of the year and it's delivered zilch.

 

[Sharp Edges]

Oh the old, "we're all entitled to an opinion, but I don't like yours" trick petal!

I'm not sure what lies, failures and spending loads of tax payers money you're upset about. But "smashing the gangs" was never going to be a quick fix and takes multi international agencies to address. You can't say that because people are still travelling by boats that this has failed as its far more complex than that.

The immigration system already has tens of thousands of unprocessed asylum applications to work through, whilst these same people are housed in hotels at huge expense.

So even if there wasn't a single extra boat journey, there would still need to be a major overhaul of the current system to clear what we already have. And this is far cheaper than leaving people in hotels for years on end. But if you want to ignore the issues at stake then you can equally crack on.

Which he has no control over.
It must take some doing to follow the worst government I can remember and be even worse after 14 years to prepare so I can see why a Labour voter would desperately clutch at a straw to find something "positive"