In an article for the New Statesman Tim Farron writes:
The tragic deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean this week must force us to change direction.
Immigration is one of the major issues of this election and Labour and the Conservatives continue to portray all immigrants in a negative light. But immigration is not an issue which can be solved by Britain on our own. Or by oversimplifying and stoking fears based on one stereotype. The Liberal Democrats’ manifesto will not ignore the plight of refugees playing a lottery with their own survival.
He goes on:
Migration is a complicated issue. We can’t just brush aside allegations that smuggling gangs were exploiting search and rescue operations because they knew that people would be saved. But we also can’t turn our backs on the people caught up in the midst of wars in Syria, in Libya, in human rights abuses in Eritrea. This is why we want a review of search and rescue, and why we support Save the Children’s campaign launched this week.
The Liberal Democrats will press for an immediate EU review of both search and rescue, and current EU-anti-trafficking programs. If lives are being lost unnecessarily, we will support the reintroduction of search and rescue.
You can read the full article here.
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25 Comments
“If lives are being lost unnecessarily”
I’m afraid that’s where the article lost me. What amount of loss of life would be a necessary loss of life in this situation? This sentence is the get out clause, and while I recognise that after tuition fees we’re all a bit shy of making promises with no get out clause, surely where human lives are concerned we can afford a BIT of unequivocalness?
I’m glad that Tim has raised the issue and it’s good to see him making another intervention on foreign/ EU policy, but “a review of search and rescue” when some 500 people are dying every week as a direct result of EU policy is terribly weak.
We need to help the migrants, but kudos to those who were saying this before 700 drowned.
We also need to support their militaries. We won’t solve the migration crisis with simply rescue boats and foreign aid.
Many of us must share a growing anxiety at the plight of those being packed into boats to cross the Mediterranean . I would welcome an indication from those who will join me in a meeting in Parliament as soon as possible. Thank You.
We share a growing anxiety at the plight of those being packed into boats to cross the Mediterranean . I would welcome an indication from those who will join me in a meeting in Parliament as soon as possible. Thank You.
I do think Tim is being opportunist and deliberately confusing different issues just so that he can make a ‘caring’ sound-bite.
The issue here isn’t really anything at all to do with immigration, but about “The number of people fleeing war or human rights abuses”. Yes, these people, particularly those who arrive on our doorstep do become immigrants, but this should not blind us to the causes of their migration and attempting to do something about that.
What is so shocking is the apparent lack of progress or even voices such as Tim’s calling for progress on these difficult but increasingly important matters, which will only become more pressing as militants spread their disruption to more countries.
The removal of the stable government of Libya has given the ‘people traffickers’ a base on the Med. coast…
I don’t blame the refugees (how many here would not try the same thing) but the removal of Gaddafi together with the refusal to support the Italian rescue effort is responsible for their terrible plight….
The UK government helped create this problem and, despite Cameron’s promises of help to the Libyan people, we ‘walked away’… It’s mostly our mess so we should help clear it up…..
Anyone with a heart is sickened at the trafficking and the drownings. Our heads will require a naval response including NATO which prevents embarkation in Libya and stops terrorists selling oil. Europe must protect its frontiers and protect the innocent trafficked migrants and refugees.
Before he became an MP, Clegg was a lobbyist for Libya.
Yet as DPM he jointly signed Libya’s death warrant for no good reason he has ever explained.
What was there about the bombing of Libya that was in any way a Liberal Democrat policy ?
Similarly he went out of his way to goad MPs into voting for the bombing of Syria in autumn 2013.
Thank goodness that a majority of MPs of all parties could see the madness of that proposal.
Tim Farron is a voice of sanity after the madness of the last few years.
two points – I don’t think Lib Dem MPs who supported (even if only by silence) the destruction of a modern state like Libya have any right to wring their hands at the refugee problem this has caused.. They should be ashamed and reflect on their own behaviour.
Second, the Katie Hopkins article about machine gunning refugees was beyond belief. I signed the petition on change.org to have her sacked by the Sun, but to be honest, I don’t think this is enough. What she said was clearly an incitement to violence and I think that both she and the notorious rag should be prosecuted.
JohnTilley 20th Apr ’15 – 6:10pm ……………Similarly he went out of his way to goad MPs into voting for the bombing of Syria in autumn 2013. Thank goodness that a majority of MPs of all parties could see the madness of that proposal…………………….
If only that were true…only nine LibDem MPs (and thirty Conservative MPs) voted against the government’s motion
After the result, those who voted against were condemned by Lord Ashdown, “In “50 years trying to serve my country I have never felt so depressed or ashamed”.
Thirty Conservative and nine Liberal Democrat MPs voted against the government’s motion
@Jonathan Pile I agree. And more fundamentally at some point we’ll have to deal with militant Islam.
“Labour and the Conservatives continue to portray all immigrants in a negative light”
Not true at all. It’s pretty appalling that Farron is making such false accusations on the back of the daily tragedies in the Mediterranean.
I don’t understand why people are using the word *trafficking*.? These desperate people are willingly handing over cash (£1000 or so), to get a place in a barely seaworthy boat to escape the mess we have left them after our mindless and ill considered military bombings in Libya. These ruthless profiteers are placing people in horrendous danger, but a willing transaction of money for a desperate and dangerous exit from Libya, in no way constitutes the concept of trafficking
Stuart
Indeed, I was very pleasantly surprised to find an end to indefinite immigration detention in the Labour manifesto ( it is in ours too of course).
Emergency meeting in Luxembourg also results in decision to boost maritime patrols in Mediterranean and broaden search-and-rescue mandate…
So, after thousands of deaths, Europe reverts to the pre- “No rescues will deter refugees from trying to enter” situation….
The European governments, especially that of the UK, should hang their heads in shame.
I was going to say that although I agree with those who say Europe needs to get its act together on this to stop the terrible loss of life, I was wondering why nobody was saying the same about the African governments.
But then I looked up the current situation in Libya, and I see that it is one of complete chaos, with two rival governments claiming legitimacy, and a raging civil war. I hadn’t realised things were so bad, as this situation has got a lot less media coverage than Iraq. What a terrible relinquishing of responsibility by the UK government and its NATO partners.
The problem is that there are hundreds of millions of people across the world leading rotten lives in other countries, who could use exactly the same arguments as those attempting to enter our country in these dangerous ways as to why we should let them stay here. If we were really true to some of what we say, we’d be making arrangements now to take a few million of them in. Why not?
Since we know that’s impractical, what does it mean when we say it’s cruel to try and stop those who are desperate from trying to get in that way, and we should let them stay if they make it? In reality, we’re setting up a lottery: win and you get life in a nice wealthy country, lose and you die. There are plenty who will take up that offer, even if the chances of winning are small.
@John Tilley “Before he became an MP, Clegg was a lobbyist for Libya.”
Can you give us your evidence for this claim please ?
The wider problem is that many states including Libya are failing. For a state to succeed there must be some loyalty which binds people of different families, clans, religions and languages together. Libya is largely a product of Italy. The west of Libya historically was influenced by Carthage and the East by Greece which is then combined with a largely tribal society. Egypt on the other hand has existed for over 5,000 years from when various kingdoms along the Nile were forged into one country. Egypt is largely non-tribal.
Even if we look at Europe, Jugoslavia, a product of WW1, was split through violent action. The creation of the Czech and Slovakia republics was one of the few times when separation was peaceful.
The problem is that very few of the decision makers have experience of living and working in countries such as Libya and speak the languages fluently plus understand the history, geography, religion, language, economics and the mentality. What may be required is pro-longed nation building by those countries who want our help. This means supporting and training countries in order to improve security, increase competence of government, increase agricultural production, improve water supplies, education and develop low level manufacturing. Improving security, increasing food consumption and providing sufficient potable water and sanitation to achieve cleanliness will do more than spending on health. Spending 0.7% of GDP on aid is not the answer: it is easy to spend money , it is difficult to spend money wisely which helps the poorest in these countries. A considerable part of the aid budget since 1945 has only provided revenue for the wealthiest in these countries and vast number of middle class Britons and westerners in the aid industry. Many aid projects fail after a few years: the Rural Water Supplies Network has shown data that 10%-60% of borehole water supplies have failed resulting in people going back to use contaminated supplies. If water supplies for irrigation projects fail, then even greater wastes of money occur.
What is needed are practical people who have a good understanding of the realities not impractical people who look at life through rose tinted spectacles.
@Matthew “Since we know that’s impractical, what does it mean when we say it’s cruel to try and stop those who are desperate from trying to get in that way, and we should let them stay if they make it? In reality, we’re setting up a lottery: win and you get life in a nice wealthy country, lose and you die. There are plenty who will take up that offer, even if the chances of winning are small.”
You talk a lot of sense sir.
@Simon Can you give us your evidence for this claim please ?
Its a bit like the game Simon Says, Simon.
Clegg lobbied for Libya – false
John Says Clegg lobbied for Libya – true
Charlie 21st Apr ’15 – 4:14pm ………………The wider problem is that many states including Libya are failing. For a state to succeed there must be some loyalty which binds people of different families, clans, religions and languages together. Libya is largely a product of Italy. The west of Libya historically was influenced by Carthage and the East by Greece which is then combined with a largely tribal society. ………………………..
What? Libya, under Gaddafi, was a stable modern country with the highest standard of living in Africa….The US and UK were the prime movers in the disastrous policy which turned it into a ‘basket case’….Left to himself Gaddafi would have quickly, if bloodily, put down the rebellion…..Loss of life? Yes! However, compared to what has happened during and since western intervention?????
A successful country is not dependent upon a single person holding it together. Successful countries comprise people who understand that they must see and act beyond family/tribal/religious and linguistic loyalties. Egypt and China have existed for over 2,000years and it does not depend upon the actions of a single person.
Tim Farron :-
“The tragic deaths of migrants in the Mediterranean this week must force us to change direction. Immigration is one of the major issues of this election and Labour and the Conservatives continue to portray all immigrants in a negative light…”
It’s interesting to read Farron’s comments again in the light of Clegg’s remarks today about scoring party political points of the back of these tragedies.