The government statement last week is an admission of failure.

Failure to get a grip on the dangerous sailings being undertaken in the channel. Ridiculous unthought-out policies like the Rwanda scheme are an example of the government and the Home Secretary’s incompetence and inability to secure the border and protect vulnerable people making the crossings. 

The Government is being taken to school by organized crime gangs exploiting distressed people. The government’s silly rhetoric will not stop the gangs. Crackdowns and collaboration with European partners in border patrol activities will!

The Braintree & Witham Labour party supports Yvette Cooper’s statement last week and furthermore believes that the Government’s proposed use of Ex RAF bases such as  Wethersfield is unsuitable on many grounds.

It will not cut costs and will be on top of hotel costs. The backlog in asylum decisions has been allowed to soar. The Government has manufactured a “crisis” by not processing claims efficiently, leading to the system being overwhelmed. Processing claims by either approving or disapproving applications is the way forward. Those with genuine grounds should be expedited, whilst those who do not have genuine claims should be fast-tracked to their safe country. 

Wethersfield is a small village in rural Braintree district, and there are no facilities to support and foster people fleeing complex and distressing places. 

We call upon Local MP James Cleverly  “Come on, Foreign Secretary, sort out your colleagues in Government! Don’t let the Conservative’s mess spread further!”

Tackle the issues at the source. Safe legal routes are required. Crackdown on criminal gangs. Clear the asylum backlog by approving settlements or returning to safe countries to end the hotel use.

Eileen Davidson

Chair of Braintree & Witham Labour Parties