'Rishi Sunak has failed to solve migrant crisis - it is a shameful record'

25 August 2023 , 21:24

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Migrants on beach in Kent (Image: TOLGA AKMEN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)

The vast majority of people want a fair, effective, compassionate asylum system but the Tories are failing on all counts.

As we report today from Calais, traffickers still ply their evil trade despite repeated Government promises to put them out of business. They are preying on the vulnerable, including refugees from Afghanistan whom we deserted when we abruptly pulled out of their country.

Refugees have turned to the black market because there is no other way of seeking ­sanctuary in this country. Ministers have not only failed to close down the smugglers, they have also presided over a record backlog in asylum claims. There are now 175,457 people awaiting an initial decision on their application. This is unfair on genuine cases and unfair on taxpayers forced to stump up for Tory incompetence. Rishi Sunak pledged to stop the boats and reduce the backlog. Neither has happened. It is a shameful record.

Out in the cold

Last year an estimated 13 million households could not afford to heat their home. Pensioners were forced to wrap up in blankets or ride on buses to keep warm. Parents had to choose between heating and eating. For many the situation could be even worse this winter.

Although the price cap will be lower, the Government is ending additional support to hard-pressed families. As a result, seven million homes will face higher bills. This is a political choice by the Tories. Had they imposed a proper windfall tax on the bumper profits of oil and gas giants they could have protected struggling people.

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Face of hate

Donald Trump’s snarling, resentful police mugshot vividly illustrates his contempt for the law. This is not just a trial of the former US President, it is a trial of the US legal system’s ability to hold people to account. Trump’s contempt for justice is the reason why justice must prevail.

Voice of the Mirror