That adults and children are risking their lives to cross the Channel’s shipping lanes in small and flimsy vessels is frightening. The home secretary, Sajid Javid, cut short a holiday, declared a “major incident”, redirected two Border Force cutters from the Mediterranean and requested the Royal Navy’s help. Meanwhile, the rightwing press talk of a “migration crisis”, evoking the surge in migration to Europe in 2015. By contrast, 539 people, almost all thought to be seeking asylum, attempted to cross the Channel in small boats in the whole of 2018. The foreign secretary and defence secretary have also had their say.

Source: The Guardian January 03, 2019 18:33 UTC