Their boat, containing about 50 asylum seekers, was rescued as it was making its way through French waters. The deaths bring the total number of fatalities over the past month to nine, and to 17 so far in 2024.
So-called illegal migration is obviously an issue of grave concern to both the governments concerned and the voters; the recent riots in England and Northern Ireland have been attributed, as an underlying cause, to public disquiet about immigration. The new Labour government has the opportunity to make a fresh start, but it is equally obviously an intractable problem...
What was the government’s response?
A spokesperson acknowledged the “tragic incident” had taken place, and added that it “underlines the terrible dangers of small boat crossings … We continue to do everything we can to prevent callous criminals exploiting vulnerable people. Our thoughts are with those affected.”
So what is the government doing about it?
Excellent question. It is a little over a month in, so there’s not been much time to make radical changes. However, ministers are proud that they’ve abolished, on day one of the Starmer administration, what they call the “gimmick” of the Rwanda plan which, the home secretary Yvette Cooper stated, was going to cost a total of £700m, or more, with little to show for it.
This story is from the August 13, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 13, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
'Fight days are for fighting, not chatting to each other'
This Saturday, Joshua Buatsi will share a card with his friend Anthony Joshua for the fourth time, boxing Willy Hutchinson for an interim title at Wembley. Alex Pattle gets the lowdown
F1 title opening could prove to be Norris's only chance
Under the afternoon sun on Saturday in the Azerbaijani capital of Baku, it felt like the moment the drivers’ title slipped away from Lando Norris.
The Man City hearing must answer these two questions
Amid all of the uncertainty around the Manchester City investigation, there is one view that can be stated with confidence as it finally gets under way.
Super clubs have nothing to fear from Uefa's shake-up
As a new Champions League format makes its debut today, Miguel Delaney looks at what it means for the competition
Final messages from Titan before implosion revealed
“All good here.”
New Zealand's bird of the year picked up by a penguin
A rare, smelly and yellow-eyed penguin species has been crowned New Zealand’s bird of the year for the second time in less than a decade.
Death toll rises as floods devastate central Europe
The death toll across central Europe from the worst flooding in decades has risen to at least 16 after Storm Boris brought a month’s worth of rain in just 24 hours.
Germany reimposes border controls to tackle migration
Germany has reintroduced checks on all nine of its land borders in a move that has angered a number of its neighbours – but brought praise from the far right.
Putin boosts troop numbers as missiles pummel Ukraine
President Vladimir Putin yesterday ordered the regular size of the Russian army to increase by 180,000 troops to 1.5 million soldiers, the third time he has expanded its ranks since sending the military into Ukraine in February 2022.
'I figured he must be either dead or in prison by now...'
Those who know Ryan Routh talk of his previous 'escapades'