JJ (Image: -)
The bill is climbing, the small boats keep coming, and somehow the answer from Westminster is to send more money to France. You couldn’t make it up. We’re now staring down the barrel of a migrant deal that’s set to soar past £1.3billion, signed off under Labour, and sold to the public as some form of progress in the battle against the boats.
Dear reader, let me be clear, I’ve actually been one of the people supporting Shabana Mahmood and giving her credit for her efforts on migration. She’s struck a tougher tone than many in her party and has said the right things. I feel like she’s the only person in government who understands the scale of the crisis facing this country. But paying out more money to the failing French ain’t the answer. Do we really believe that more British taxpayers’ money going to France is going to get them to finally do their job? Er…
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We’ve all seen the footage – French officers standing on beaches, hands in pockets, watching as migrants sprint into the sea and clamber onto flimsy dinghies. Not intervening. Not stopping it. Just observing while standing in those rather fetching uniforms.
There are repeated reports of French vessels escorting these boats into British waters – not turning them back, not preventing the crossing, but effectively waving them on their way towards the UK. So forgive me if I’m not exactly brimming with confidence that another cheque is suddenly going to change behaviour that’s been tolerated for years. At what point do we stop paying for failure? If we’re going to keep bankrolling border control on the other side of the Channel, then the deal needs real teeth, not polite diplomatic language and vague promises – but hard, financial penalties.
Here’s a simple idea – for every single migrant who successfully crosses from France and lands on British shores, France should be fined £1million. Not a token slap on the wrist but a proper, painful financial consequence.
Because right now, where is the incentive for them to act? They get paid regardless. The crossings continue and the UK taxpayer foots the bill. Flip that equation, and watch how quickly priorities change. Suddenly, those beach patrols won’t be so passive and the dinghies won’t be so casually “escorted” towards Britain.
I say this directly to Ms Mahmood: don’t let France off the hook. If we’re paying, we should be seeing results. And if we’re not seeing results, they should be paying us back.
Serial predator tells you everything you need to know about broken system
Romanian national Sebastian Pavel Baltatu was deported from Britain after being found guilty of raping a child. But this vile predator somehow managed to sneak back into the UK and, unbelievably, tried to claim benefits. A convicted child rapist, back on British soil, dipping his hand into the taxpayer’s pocket like he’s entitled to it.
It tells you everything you need to know about how our system is viewed. Not as something to protect the vulnerable or support those in genuine need but as a free-for-all. A money tree.
And let’s not lose sight of the bigger issue here. How on earth is someone capable of committing such a horrific crime not only walking free, but able to return to this country at all? This is exactly why I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – we need far tougher measures for sex offenders. Other countries, Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, have already explored chemical castration with trials, and even the UK has too.
We must make it mandatory. And as for that scumbag Baltatu? Well if he’s so determined to be in Britain, then fine – let him stay. Lock him up, permanently, at His Majesty’s pleasure and let him live out his days on a wing with prisoners who know what he’s in for.
Sorry Nigel, but you can’t have it both ways
Nigel Farage now says X is becoming “a very unpleasant and dangerous place,” after racist abuse was aimed at Reform’s ethnic minority candidates. And on that point, he’s right. But let’s not pretend this is some sudden revelation. It was barely a year and a half ago that Farage was more than happy to hitch his wagon to Elon Musk and his platform.
Back in December 2024, Farage was praising Musk as “cool” – the man who could help Reform win over younger voters. Funny how things change when the toxicity lands on your own doorstep. Ironically though, much of the vile abuse aimed at Reform candidates appears to be coming from accounts claiming to be Reform supporters. Not outsiders, but supposedly, their own side.
That’s not just a platform problem then, Nigel, that’s a party problem. If your own supporters are the ones driving the racism, then I’m afraid you’ve got far bigger issues than social media, mate.
I’m baffled by the Green Party’s pitch
Local elections are around the corner and here in Hackney, east London, I’m genuinely baffled by the Green Party’s pitch. They’re leaning heavily on Gaza and Israel to win votes at a local level. Now, I’m no cheerleader for the war, and I’ve made it clear I’m uncomfortable with Britain’s ongoing involvement. But since when did a conflict 2,000 miles away become the deciding factor in who fixes your potholes or streetlights?
This is the problem with modern politics – everything becomes national while the basics get ignored. Because when I walk out my front door, I’m not thinking about foreign policy. I’m thinking about overflowing bins, cracked pavements, potholes that could swallow a small car and litter and graffiti.
That’s what local government is for. Debate the big issues by all means, but don’t pretend it replaces the day job.
No need for grifters
The Home Office is absolutely right to ban Valentina Gomez from the UK. The anti-Islam influencer has been stopped from attending the latest Unite the Kingdom rally in London next month. Good. She doesn’t bring debate – she brings only division. The kind fuelled by hatred, dressed up as “free speech” but aimed squarely at tearing communities apart.
I’m a firm believer in free speech. It’s a cornerstone of British life, but there’s a clear line between expressing an opinion and deliberately stoking hostility. Gomez crosses that line repeatedly and does it with a grin on her face.
And not to sound anti-American, but we don’t need a grifting Yank flying in to lecture us on how to run our country.