JJ Anisiobi, left, beleives we need to urgently end pull factors for illegal migration (Image: PA)
There was a time when moving to Britain meant something. It meant respect for the country you wanted to call home – and my parents understood that better than most. They worked themselves to the bone to build a life here. They saved every penny, learned English and followed every rule placed in front of them. It wasn’t easy for them. There were no shortcuts, no luxury hotels and certainly no expectation that the state would roll out the red carpet for them.
My mum spent nearly 40 years working as an NHS midwife, and my dad worked for the local council. They paid taxes, contributed to society and believed deeply in Britain and British values. So you can imagine how frustrating it has been for them to watch thousands of people arrive on small boats, bypassing the legal system and immediately demanding support from the very country they have entered illegally.
That frustration turned to amusement when my father recently read reports that some migrants are now sneaking out of Britain because life here isn’t matching the fantasy they were sold. Apparently the “golden streets” and endless handouts don’t quite exist after all. Good! Because for years Britain has behaved like the softest touch in Europe.
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Read more: ‘Migration grifters are keeping me awake at night – they should keep you up too’
We have created a system packed full of pull factors that make this country irresistibly attractive to economic migrants. Free accommodation, weekly payments, endless appeals and little chance of swift removal if claims are rejected. Compare that to some of our European neighbours, who have taken a far firmer approach, and it’s hardly surprising Britain has become such a magnet.
My opinion on this will no doubt be uncomfortable for some, but I think the problem is obvious. If somebody is genuinely fleeing war or persecution, they are looking primarily for safety. They are not comparing hotel standards, complaining about room sizes or grumbling about the amount of spending money they receive every week. So when we hear reports of small boat arrivals being unhappy with their accommodation or demanding more financial support, ordinary working people are entitled to ask questions. That doesn’t make them cruel – it’s human nature.
Of course, genuine asylum seekers do exist, and they deserve compassion, protection and fairness. Britain has always opened its doors to people in real danger. But the current chaos helps nobody – least of all those genuine cases. A system overwhelmed by economic migration makes it harder to identify and properly support people who truly need sanctuary. Reducing the pull factors would not make Britain look heartless – it would make Britain sensible.
At the moment, the message being sent across the Channel is clear: get to Britain and the chances are you’ll be looked after indefinitely, regardless of how you arrived. But the British public are running out of patience with it and for the benefit of real asylum seekers, we need to more accurately separate the wheat from the chaff.
Bring back the death penalty
The sentencing of delivery driver Tanner Lynn Horner to death by lethal injection in America for the murder of 7-year-old Athena Strand has reignited a debate Britain has avoided for far too long. While many will disagree with me, I believe the death penalty should return here for the most clear-cut cases of child murder.
Tanner Lynn Horner has been sentence to death in US… UK should consider same penalties (Image: Getty)
Yes, I understand the moral arguments. As a Catholic, I know many Christians believe all life is sacred and that forgiveness should always be possible. Part of me wrestles with that too, but I’m also human. And I cannot find forgiveness in my heart for adults who deliberately torture, abuse or murder innocent children.
These crimes are beyond comprehension and they shatter families forever and destroy entire communities. Yet too often it feels as though our justice system is more concerned with the rights of offenders than with the suffering of victims and their loved ones. For me, this is not about revenge, but about justice, protection and deterrence.
In cases where there is overwhelming evidence, no doubt about guilt and no possibility of error, society should have the right to say “enough”. If someone intentionally takes the life of a child in the most horrific circumstances, they forfeit their own right to remain part of society.
We have to stop being afraid of difficult conversations, because while politicians endlessly debate the rights of monsters, it is grieving families who are left serving a life sentence of pain. Victims must come first again, and future victims deserve protecting too.
Rayner’s running for sure
Angela Rayner may not have officially launched a bid to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader, but preparations are already quietly underway behind the scenes. Last week, during lunch with a political source inside the Palace of Westminster, I was told Rayner has been speaking to all the right people in an effort to shore up support and map out a potential leadership run. Publicly, of course, it’s all being played down, and my source said Rayner is keen to avoid any suggestion she’s building her own shadow operation or preparing a future Cabinet because the last thing she wants is for Starmer to think she’s sharpening the knives.
But privately, that is exactly what is happening. The hesitation, I’m told, comes from one major reality – Starmer will not go quietly. Rayner knows any leadership challenge would quickly descend into political warfare. That’s why she’s focused on alliances, loyalties and quietly persuading enough senior figures that, when the moment comes, they may need to jump ship together.
Nigel needs to give his head a wobble
Nigel Farage must tread carefully because right now he’s sounding dangerously hypocritical. When it emerged that Keir Starmer accepted free suits from Lord Alli, Farage was one of the loudest voices condemning the PM. He painted it as proof that Labour politicians were out of touch and living off handouts. Yet now we discover Farage himself was gifted £5million for personal security.
So if the money is for security, then surely it should be used to allow him to properly do his job as MP for Clacton. Constituency surgeries and face-to-face meetings are part of the role. You can’t attack others over freebies while expecting voters to ignore your own, Nige.
Government has got to act … before it’s too late
With two pubs shutting every day in Britain, Labour must step in before one of the greatest parts of British life disappears forever.
Our pubs are more than just places for a pint – they’re the heartbeat of some communities, stories are shared and locals come together. They’re more British than fish and chips! Yet soaring business rates and relentless costs are strangling landlords and forcing beloved locals to close their doors for good. If the government is serious about protecting British culture and community spirit, it must slash business rates and throw pubs a lifeline before it’s too late.