'Stop The Boats' Policy is Sinking.

Boats have been crossing the English Channel for some time now. Year after year people take to dinghies paying criminals exorbitant prices for this. To take to craft, never designed, to carry hordes of people. Some sadly, capsize, in the English Channel. Often, with loss of life, while others do make it ashore. Most are picked up by Royal Navy or Coast Guard and RNLI craft and ferried to shore. They are held in detention centres, hotels, etc. What happens then is dependent on circumstances. One thing is clear, though, the UK has to be compassionate, but many people coming here illegally is putting a strain on our already shaky services.

Rishi Sunak promised to 'Stop The Boats' as one of his 5 pledges. It looked like this might be working as Channel crossings fell to 20%. Of course, Sunak highlighted this, as evidence, that his policy was working. However, he was soon brought back to earth, with a bang. Crossings last week shot up again leaving Sunak and his policy sinking fast (no pun intended). 13,000 migrants have crossed the Channel since the beginning of 2023.

Suella Braverman, Home Secretary, said She and Sunak were working on toughing up the 'Stopping The Boats' policy. Apparently, though new legislation is afoot to beef up stopping the boats. So what can Braverman and Sunak have up their sleeves, that they have not already tried? Short of sending the whole Royal Navy against these migrants as Geroge Clooney says in the 'Nespresso' ad "What else"? It may be Sunak is out of ideas and he never intended to 'Stop The Boats'. Or, he will keep trying hoping his policy (if there is anything behind it) works before the next general election. Whatever, Sunak is like Satan, (not that I'm comparing - honestly!) and has little time left. We will be in August soon and as each month goes by, it brings May 2024, the next general election closer.

Now Sunak, by a miracle, might win next year's general election. However, if you are a Tory in Sunak's cabinet or in the general populace of Conservative MPs you might be slightly panicking. The latest polling for the Conservatives doesn't look good. Labour is 20 - 22 points ahead of the Tories. It seems though, Sunak is telling his MPs, to 'hold their nerve'. Just as he is telling the public to do the same in light of price increases for goods. But as Sir Keir rightly observed, "Telling people to hold their nerve, what a nerve"! Highlighting, the Prime Minister's fortune, where he doesn't have to worry about bills or shopping.

Sunak Himself must realize even if he does care, he cannot ever identify, with going short of anything. He has known privilege most of his life. His Mother was a Pharmacist and his Father, a Doctor. His Education was the best of the best. Working in finance as a Hedge Fund Director would have earned him a gross salary. Mrs. Sunak (Akshata Murty) is a billionaire in her own right. The Sunak's 3 daughters will never go short of anything.

Braverman's Rwanda policy of flying migrants to that destination has been stopped in its tracks. She had hoped to have this policy up and running by now. But like her predecessor Priti Patel, she finds herself stopped by the courts. What will happen now is anyone's guess. For politicians it's alright saying something but getting to actualize it is another thing. Whether the Rwanda policy will ever be enacted is open to question.

If Labour (and the polls are pointing to this) win the next general election they must get to grips with the boat crossers.