Despite sharp criticism, London wants to put migrants back on ships

A first barge will soon anchor off the port of Portland in southern England. Sunak announced this on Monday in Dover. “With courage and determination, the government can solve this problem (migration, ed.). And we are using all the means at our disposal,” said the British Prime Minister. The government wants strict laws to prevent unwanted migrants from entering the country. arrives in Britain must be rounded up and deported as soon as possible to Rwanda or another country considered safe, refugee status should not be taken into account.

Sunak: Plan is working
According to the prime minister, his plan against ‘illegal migration’ is working: between January and May 2023, the number of arrivals fell, for the first time in years. However, observers point out that the drop may also be weather-related. In the summer months, more and more people would usually venture across than in the winter months. There is now a repatriation agreement with Albania. A lot of migrants came from there last year.

In 2016, the migration issue made an important contribution to a narrow vote by the British to leave the EU. “The only reason we won the referendum was because people thought that controlling our borders would reduce the number of[migrants],” Brexit spokesman Nigel Farage said recently. In fact, according to him, the figures would “explode” after the exit. Sunak is now under pressure, among other things, because he can no longer justify an alleged failure of EU policy.