658 migrants have so far arrived to the UK on small boats this year. It’s 19th January by the way….
138 migrants arrived on three small boats yesterday – pushing the total for the year above 500 for the first time – after 317 arrived on Saturday and 171 on Wednesday. This is so far tracking with previous recent years in terms of arrival numbers. Numbers usually spike with improving weather from 1 March. Last year the spike began at the end of January…
There will be pressure on the Home Office’s proposed reforms to target small boat activity in the Channel. Nothing has worked so far…
The Home Office is splurging an eye-watering £1.8 million on a contract to “reintegrate” failed asylum seekers deported to Algeria and Sri Lanka. The two-year long contract spotted by the Taxpayer’s Alliance went live less than two weeks ago. Which lucky non-profit will pick that one up…
According to the government’s own website, the cash will bankroll a generous list of post-deportation perks for illegal migrants once they’ve been put on a plane home, including:
All this for ‘Returning Migrants’ to just two countries – neither of which features among the main nationalities returned from the UK in recent years. Callum McGoldrick of the TPA said:
“Providing a VIP resettlement package including ‘entrepreneurship funds’ and mentorship for returnees is a total slap in the face to hard-pressed Brits. The Home Office should be focusing on security, not acting as a high-end travel agent. It’s time to pull the plug on this waste.”
Asylum Freebiegate rolls on…
Downing Street has quietly handed more power to the Cabinet Office over national security. Arrangements have been reshuffled, siphoning authority away from the Home Office, with the security minister now split between both the Cabinet Office and Home Office. A downgrade for the Home Office…
In response to Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge, Security Minister Dan Jarvis confirmed:
“Overall responsibility for national resilience, national security and cross-government coordination sits with the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister in the Cabinet Office. In addition, the Security Minister’s role is now split across the Cabinet Office and the Home Office, the purpose of which is to improve coordination across Government on national security. The Government’s priorities for these areas are detailed in the Resilience Action Plan and the National Security Strategy.”
Dan Jarvis was made minister of state at the Cabinet Office on 6 September alongside his role as security minister. Meanwhile, Starmer’s right-hand man Darren Jones has “overall responsibility” over national security as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. No plans to appoint a homeland security minister either…
Shabana Mahmood’s new unit in the Home Office to deal with small boats has still not been set up. Back at the start of September Guido reported that Shabana Mahmood was reorganising the Home Office to form a new “asylum taskforce.” Permanent secretary Antonia Romeo told staff:
“I have agreed with the Home Secretary and No.10 that we will establish a new Asylum Taskforce which, with support and resource from No. 10, MOD, MHCLG, and AGO, will be dedicated to delivering the Government’s commitment to exiting hotels and to reducing the supported population. Visas, Passports and Citizenship Services will now form a separate DG-led group… Simon and I are in the process of appointing a DG who will lead the Asylum Taskforce.”
Three months later Guido can report that the unit has still not been established. Working at a snail’s pace…
A Director General – Marianthi Leontaridi – was hired on 3 November on between £130,000 and £209,000. Leontaridi was Director General of Aviation, Maritime and Security Group in the DfT from June 2022 to November this year. Her time there is described as overseeing “decarbonisation, growth, safety and security policies across aviation and maritime, as well as wider national security and resilience policy and operations in DfT and sponsorship of the Maritime Coastguard Agency.” Each small boat migrant to be made carbon neutral…
The Home Office says its “Taskforce has not been completely set up” and there will not be a “fixed number” of staff working in it anyway. Asylum seeker hotel numbers have increased 13% since June. Clock is ticking…
Yet another ‘deported’ migrant under the ‘one in, one out’ deal has returned to the UK in a small boat, according to GB News. Just days after the first ‘hokey cokey’ migrant was finally deported for a second time – having spent 18 days in the UK – the Home Office admitted a second individual made the journey on Remembrance Sunday. Once again, they’re keen to stress his case will be ‘expedited’ like the last time…
“Anyone looking to return to the UK after being removed under the UK-France agreement is wasting their time and money. This individual was detected by biometrics and detained immediately. His case will be expedited, and he will be returned to France as quickly as possible. The message is clear: if you try to return to the UK, you will be sent back.”
In, out. In, out. Shake it all about…
Starmer was read out a list of his 13 U-turns on BBC Radio 2, to which he responded:
“Well, I am a common sense merchant.”