Migrants crossing the Med! Let them die?

When leader of the British National Party Nick Griffin came to elected power via his European Election win in 2009, he quickly convened a press conference from Brussels. Emboldened by his anti-immigrantion win he told the waiting press:

The way to stop Africans coming to Europe is to sink a few boats.”

The world was appalled. One EU official informed Griffin that decent Nation States saved lives rather than take them.

Yet, little more than five years down the line, the British Government along with other EU allies have shockingly decided that the EU will no longer save the lives of those embarking on the perilous journeys Africans are prepared to make in a bid to reach Europe. Journeys which have already claimed the lives of countless men, women and children.

The Home office statement read:

Theresa May, with other European interior ministers this month have taken this decison because the rescue operations, which had so far saved the lives of more than 150,000 migrants, were acting as a “pull factor” for illegal migration.”

This year alone more than 4, 000 migrants have lost their lives in these treacherous journeys. Match that with those who have been saved with the present Italian rescue operations and the chances an African will not see the end of their journey are about 35/1. Other than complete desperation -war torn poverty stricken countries- would individuals really be happy to take that chance?

Deploring our Governments and the EU’s decision Amnesty international bluntedly stated ‘more people will now die’.

The artist Anish Kapoor said in a heartfelt letter to the Guardian that:

These people find themselves in such dire difficulties that they see no choice but to take to the high seas and risk their lives in vessels that are woefully inadequate. Let us not forget that our government acts in our name and that each of us is implicated in this act of barbaric selfishness.”

It makes you weep to see Europe’s political class including our own Government view African lives with such indifference. The toxic immigration debate- almost every newspaper today has a negative front page about asylum and immigration -fuelled by Ukip’s band wagon, will now almost certainly cost the lives of young Africans fleeing desperate situations.

A sad day for European politics. A shameful day for the UK.

Simon Woolley