The Mail's call for action against migrant boats from Libya is arguably worse than Katie Hopkins's
Most of the papers this morning have reports from aboard HMS Bulwark, the Royal Navy vessel whose crew has rescued 1,200 people attempting to reach Europe via the Mediterranean.
The invitation to reporters was likely part of a public relations drive to show the good work Britain is doing to help those fleeing war and persecution in north Africa and the middle east.
The Daily Mail was suitably impressed by the boys and girls in blue, but had some concerns. Its leader column today said:
“Isn’t the grave danger, however, that by providing would-be illegal immigrants safe passage to Europe, the government risks encouraging even more people to make this perilous journey – with potentially catastrophic consequences?”
Surely the ‘grave danger’ for the people directly affected is in Syria, from where many of them have escaped, and where they risk being blown apart, raped, tortured or beheaded on camera. Others are fleeing war and persecution in Eritrea, Somalia and Afghanistan.
If people are willing to risk death by drowning to get away from this, they don’t require any ‘pull factor’ from the Royal Navy.
The column chuggs along:
“The only sustainable way to tackle this crisis – Defence Secretary Michael Fallon estimates 500,000 migrants may be preparing to make the trip – is to stop the boats leaving Libya in the first place, by any means necessary.”
‘By any means necessary’ – that is how the column ends.
It’s quite novel to read the Daily Mail echoing the famous words of Malcolm X, though I doubt either party would welcome the association. But one is left to wonder where this militant position takes us.
What policy does the Mail actually favour? A naval blockade of the northern coast of Africa? Should the Royal Navy open fire on boats they suspect of carrying migrants? Or perhaps use explosives, of the kind and from which the boats’ terrified passengers have likely fled?
Tough talk without specifics is very dangerous. Katie Hopkins was at least clear on what she wanted in her infamous piece for the Sun.
The Daily Mail ought to clarify what ‘stop the boats leaving Libya in the first place, by any means necessary’, actually means.
Adam Barnett is a staff writer at Left Foot Forward. Follow MediaWatch on Twitter
Read more:
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33 Responses to “Daily Mail says boats of migrants should be stopped ‘by any means necessary’”
gunnerbear
Sorry, you’re quite right, I should have said, “It appears to me that you’ve said…..”. It was slack writing on my part to not make it clear it was my interpretation of what you’ve said.
knisa
These are not refugees. If they were refugees, they would be content to land and make new lives in Turkey or Italy or Spain, where they first find safe harbor. But they burn their passports, refuse to register as refugees, and try to cross into Germany and Sweden. Why? They are economic migrants, not refugees.
Lyn Steimel
Shame on you!! With most of the EU “looking the other way,” giving “lip service” to the mounting immigrant crisis, and turning their backs on desperate refugees fleeing middle eastern wars, droughts and famine! Of all the EU countries It’s England and Spain who have miserably failed, and shown the rest of the known world, the worse of humanity by choosing to shirk their humanitarian duty towards those fleeing the terror of war, rape, torture, beheadings and ISIL in Syria, and Lybia Or those fleeing war, and persecution in Afghanistan, famine and droughts on the African Continent. And Why? For political power! They have decided to sacrifice others rather than create some” political tension “for their parties” England and Spain would rather be part of a ” smear campaign” against refugees and economic immigrants seeking a safe haven than part of the solution! Germany’s Andrea Merkel has offered to take 800,000 refugees this year, and England? So far around 166 war refugees this year. Merkel has proposed a new quota system which would see refugees fairly distributed among all 28 EU states. And from Downing Street? Silence. In Germany, thousands of ordinary Germans have volunteered to help the refugees now arriving daily. A Berlin-based group, Refugees Welcome, which matches refugees with people willing to give them a room, has been flooded with offers. More than 780 Germans have signed up. In Britain, the refugee crisis has been less acute. There are signs here too, however, of ordinary citizens wanting to contribute. A pro-refugee rally in central London is planned for 12 September, just before the Brussels summit. The organisers said it is vital that May “takes with her the conviction that the British people that she represents are open to helping refugees.” They added: “We can’t continue to allow thousands to die trying to reach the EU and their legal right to claim asylum.”