An absolute tragedy today, as four more people perished attempting a small boat crossing. Imagine how utterly desperate you would have to be, in this weather, to get into one of these flimsy little boats and attempt to cross the channel.
The Home Secretary today described this journey as a "lethally dangerous endeavour". Yet she is adamant that she will not consider safe and legal routes until she has smashed the trafficking rings. Obviously we all want the traffickers stopped as a matter of urgency, but it is simply wrong to insist that this must happen before any steps are taken to provide safe and legal routes via which people can travel in these desperate circumstances.
The UK Government approach to these issues is inhumane and despite her very shabby response, I will not shy away from saying so.
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