Refugees should not be considered to be migrants

I am proud that our nation took in refugees fleeing the invasion of Ukraine from safe third party nations such as Poland. I am tempted to ask if there is a reason that non-white Asylum Seekers in France are not offered the same (as offered by France in 2021) because that would Stop The Boats.  But I know the answer.  

We have a political party in power who acts like Alan B'stard when it comes to refugees.  The sad thing is that the episode of the New Statesman, Heil and Farewell, is sadly accurate and in many ways reflects the position of our government on refugees.

So when Gary Lineker comments about the language used to describe asylum seekers, or others make similar comparisons, I can understand this.

    

I have mixed feelings about gate-crashing the speeches being made as I do not think that freedom of speech should be infringed by protest, but while this protest did cause disruption, it did not stop those on the right from speaking, so overall, I accept this form of protest.

As we know, too many people do not have a safe and legal route to claim asylum here that is worthy.  We have seen it with those trying to flee Afghanistan where they are subjected to abuse when they flee to a neighbouring nation, as well as the many that we have left to suffer there.

Who wants to win the league

I am starting to think that Ted Lasso is cursing Arsenal. Before the game against the team that rhymes with City, Pep Guardiola was discussed and we were beaten, and this week, Brighton featured, who again beat us.

I guess the Spurs fans at work will be laughing at me tomorrow but finishing second is more than we would have expected at the beginning of the season. 

Eurovision

We are at a friends house and we are watching Eurovision. Food, drink and good company are present. The only down side is the UK entry. We have entered a great song, but when broadcast, they got things wrong. The music was too loud and viewers at home could not appreciate her voice, which is a shame. You can compare and contrast with the video’s below.

The only people I can see that will be happy with the performance will be those who wanted her to fail due to comments made in the past.

Wine tasting

 Yesterday was a bit stressful, but very relaxing afterwards.  I had to cover some work due to staff sickness and I thought that I would not have enough time to do this properly as I had to go to an evening event.  My wife had booked some tickets at a wine tasting event which we went to with Nick and Lyndsay.

The weather in the last few days has forgotten that the term April showers should not apply to May, but the event was help in a marquee and it did not actually rain.  Food was paella which my wife felt was amazing, hotdogs and steak and chips.  

The selection of wines was amazing, we found a memorable Lebanese wine of which we bought a few bottles and after tasting the wine which is available at the New Hall Wine estate, we may visit there again later.  

France urged the UK to open a safe and legal asylum route in 2021. Our government refused.

The opportunity to #StopTheBoats by offering a safe and legal route for asylum seekers in France was turned down by our government in 2021. 

 

I have discussed the matter of refugees before and Suella Braverman was found lost for words when it came to discussing what safe and legal routes exist for asylum seekers from abroad. I am proud of how we welcomed Ukrainian refugees to our nation, many of whom were in safe nations outside Ukraine. I am ashamed how we are not doing this for others. 

Our government points out that there is a safe and legal route for asylum seekers from nations like Afghanistan. But thousands of Afghans who helped British forces remain stranded by by inaction by our government and many journalists who face persecution are also being left as well. In February it was reported that only 22 Afghans had been resettled in UK under a ‘pathway’ to help vulnerable refugees and many who have fled to Pakistan face injustice there.

I have brought this up (again) as this was discussed in the House of Lords and the current government stance was deemed morally unacceptable.  Unlike many on the left, I am in favour of deporting those who cross the channel to nations like Rwanda and I am in favour of stricter criteria of refugees which would mean many from Albania would be denied refugee status.  Unlike our government, I want the need to channel crossings to be dealt with by having a safe and legal route for refugees to have claims heard while in France.  This would have to be one that would have the capacity to process claims in a speedy and accurate manner as opposed to taking months.  It is insane that we have a situation where an Afghan pilot had to come here by taking a boat across the channel to seek asylum because they were not able to access the safe and legal route that the government has put in place to say that there is one.    

The right to protest

 

Last month, (30p) Les Anderson tried to tell a police chief that he was not doing his job properly when it came to stopping certain protests. Despite stating that the police had powers to stop protests, a law allowing the police more powers to do so came into effect just before the coronation. 

While I think that the police were right to act before the coronation, I do think the part of the law that allowed this should have had a sunset clause which would cause it to expire after the Coronation Bank Holiday weekend.

The right to protest is an important part of our society, it has brought about much needed change when inaction brought none. Too many on the right forget this, or call for protestors to leave. Both arguments are stupid as a patriot wants their nation to be better as opposed to leaving it. I doubt the suffragists would have brought about political change in the UK buy leaving it. 

How to annoy my daughter

My daughter has had her first mock exam. I am not sure if she is going to survive the week. Today, before her exam, a friend tried to de-stress her by smuggling in two snails into the refectory and having a snail race on her table. Some of the snail trail got onto her notes which she promptly binned.

In the exam, her friend sat next to her and tried to get her to help. On the other side, a fellow student needed a pen, she lent it to them and they spent the exam deconstructing her pen and then clicking joints (which my daughter hates).

Apparently I am meant to be sympathetic on hearing this and not burst into laughter.