The latest plank in the government’s plan to “stop the boats” is to… deploy more boats. Robert Jenrick is due to make a statement to the Commons today, where it’s expected he will announce an end to migrants being housed in hotels – a practice which costs the government £3.5 billion a year. Instead, the government will look to rely on military bases as well as barges, ferries and cruise ships. Knot too shabby.
Before any co-conspirators go overboard, Steven Swinford reports that, although a barge has been procured, plans are at an “early stage” as there are still issues to work through. Meanwhile, The Telegraph suggests Jenrick’s announcement – which will focus primarily on military bases – faces local opposition. The paper reports Braintree council is applying for an interim injunction against plans to house 1,500 migrants at RAF Wethersfield, whilst West Lindsey council look to make similar moves in regard to RAF Scampton. It’s by no means plain sailing.
Dominic Raab was on Sky News this morning, and spoke to Kay Burley about the plans:
“We’re going to look at a whole range of options… we’ll look at barges it’s been done elsewhere in Europe, it’s been done in Scotland. We’ll look at barracks… Nothing’s off the table. We must end this perverse incentives through the hotels.”
Moor as we get it…
Yesterday evening, Sky News revealed the latest in the long-line of dramatic lobby-driven allegations against “coercive” arch-villain Dominic Raab. They use whistleblower-esque video of anonymous actors filmed in poorly-lit rooms to convey the gravity of the situation – with the anonymous sources – read leftie civil servants – accusing Raab of showing “quiet fury”. Buried half-way through the video piece, Beth admits her anonymous sources “weren’t bullied by the Deputy Prime Minister themselves”…
Amongst the other allegations lodged against the Justice Secretary was the claim he would “adapt his behaviour depending on the person” and that officials would be “nervous about going into meetings with him” for fear of an “unpleasant encounter”. The testimony adds that Raab’s victims “wouldn’t complain”. You have to wonder why.
The claims go further. Although Beth’s sources admit “he wouldn’t shout”, in this case, his crime was far worse. His victims allege “The vein would be pumping on his head and he would look like he was about to explode.” Just shocking.
In the wake of all this, Raab has the unfortunate job of facing questions on this morning’s media round, even with the government’s announcement of tougher sentencing for domestic abuse, no prizes for guessing where their attention was focused. So far, he has stuck to a refusal to comment, though Sky News did get him to admit he “absolutely” has high standards in the workplace:
“I think if you’re in any walk of life, the media, in sport, CEO of a big business, let alone in government, you want to set high standards because that’s how you deliver.”
We can’t have that…
