Comment: Refugees plan needs rethink

3:45pm Thursday 28th June 2012 in Opinion Photograph of the Author By Telegraph comment

ALL democratic nations have a duty to take in a fair percentage of men, women and children forced to flee their own countries because they face torture or death.

You cannot reject those persecuted simply because of something like their politics, race or religion.

But there needs to be a commonsense way of working out where to resettle people so their needs are met without causing real problems to the host community.

That means numbers have to be right – and 700 is a lot for a town like Blackburn.

The council quickly realised that fact ten years ago and has been working with a maximum of 350 asylum seekers in the borough.

Now the government has handed responsibility to a company, Serco, who are to double the ceiling.

Locally, Labour and Conservative leaders are united in opposing the move because they believe 700 is too many for one borough to handle.

The government and Serco should listen to their worries and perhaps disperse refugees across East Lancashire rather than merely concentrate them in Blackburn and Darwen.

Comments (7)

5:19pm Thu 28 Jun 12

Miguel12 says...

The opening premise "ALL democratic nations have a duty to take in a fair percentage of men, women and children forced to flee their own countries because they face torture or death", is flawed, it has no substance and certainly no prescriptive history in the recognised definition of a democracy.
The second premise "You cannot reject those persecuted simply because of something like their politics, race or religion," is equally flawed and begs the question, Why not?
The opening premise "ALL democratic nations have a duty to take in a fair percentage of men, women and children forced to flee their own countries because they face torture or death", is flawed, it has no substance and certainly no prescriptive history in the recognised definition of a democracy. The second premise "You cannot reject those persecuted simply because of something like their politics, race or religion," is equally flawed and begs the question, Why not? Miguel12

10:20am Fri 29 Jun 12

BritainfortheBritish says...

As everyone knows it will cost the government much less to be housed etc up here . This is probably the real reason .
The fact of the matter is we are being used as a dumping ground .Has anyone asked us ! if we actually want any more ? Not just here but in the actual country .
The answer would be a resounding no !!! We are full and apparently skint .
As everyone knows it will cost the government much less to be housed etc up here . This is probably the real reason . The fact of the matter is we are being used as a dumping ground .Has anyone asked us ! if we actually want any more ? Not just here but in the actual country . The answer would be a resounding no !!! We are full and apparently skint . BritainfortheBritish

11:28am Fri 29 Jun 12

midas says...

Those coming from a devastated and foresaken country, with no rule of law or safety.....will feel at home in Blackburn and Darwen :-)
Those coming from a devastated and foresaken country, with no rule of law or safety.....will feel at home in Blackburn and Darwen :-) midas

1:22pm Fri 29 Jun 12

Commenting says...

these refugees or are they economic migrants arrive here without any historical connection to Britain in general or Blackburn in particular.
They will be accommodated in either houses, B&B's or hotels at great public expense and will never make any attempt to learn the language or support themselves.
Why should they when the majority of legimate migrants, the spouces and family members of our Asian residents, do not make any attempt to intergrate but are happy to pick up the benefits of our welfare state.
Perhaps, but it is a faint hope, that government will turn the rhetoric into practice and only pay out to those who pay in.
We can but dream.
these refugees or are they economic migrants arrive here without any historical connection to Britain in general or Blackburn in particular. They will be accommodated in either houses, B&B's or hotels at great public expense and will never make any attempt to learn the language or support themselves. Why should they when the majority of legimate migrants, the spouces and family members of our Asian residents, do not make any attempt to intergrate but are happy to pick up the benefits of our welfare state. Perhaps, but it is a faint hope, that government will turn the rhetoric into practice and only pay out to those who pay in. We can but dream. Commenting

1:40pm Fri 29 Jun 12

mavrick says...

I think they should be named the Olympic refugees, we don't want those sort of people being seen sleeping rough around the area do we?
I saw the picture of these people lining up like our own had to do in the 30s,40s,50s for handouts. I feel ashamed that we don't seem to have moved on much. There is a desperate shortage of decent paying jobs in the area, and the introduction of so many questionable asylum seekers will be used to keep wages down. Everybody with half a brain knows full well the consequences of trying to integrate so many people into an area, you then have to question the use of a private company in this resettlement.
The whole thing stinks of social cleansing, People will jump on the bandwagon of blame the previous government. They must share their part of the blame for the farcical mismanagement of asylum seekers. But the cynical transfer of people out of the London Olympic zone by the Tories is akin to the Nazis plan for ethnic cleansing. The people in Lancashire are the most welcoming and friendly people you could wish to meet, But just how much more does this government think people will put up with? It is all very well Jack and Kate demanding a rethink when they know that it is a done deal. I can easily see social unrest being a big issue in the area very soon, The only way forward is for the government to insist any big companies wishing to come to Britain should be made to set up in in the area, just like they did after WW2. It is possible but I suspect the political will is not there to make it happen. The other option is to have a referendum on our continuing membership of the E.U German Dictatorship.
I think they should be named the Olympic refugees, we don't want those sort of people being seen sleeping rough around the area do we? I saw the picture of these people lining up like our own had to do in the 30s,40s,50s for handouts. I feel ashamed that we don't seem to have moved on much. There is a desperate shortage of decent paying jobs in the area, and the introduction of so many questionable asylum seekers will be used to keep wages down. Everybody with half a brain knows full well the consequences of trying to integrate so many people into an area, you then have to question the use of a private company in this resettlement. The whole thing stinks of social cleansing, People will jump on the bandwagon of blame the previous government. They must share their part of the blame for the farcical mismanagement of asylum seekers. But the cynical transfer of people out of the London Olympic zone by the Tories is akin to the Nazis plan for ethnic cleansing. The people in Lancashire are the most welcoming and friendly people you could wish to meet, But just how much more does this government think people will put up with? It is all very well Jack and Kate demanding a rethink when they know that it is a done deal. I can easily see social unrest being a big issue in the area very soon, The only way forward is for the government to insist any big companies wishing to come to Britain should be made to set up in in the area, just like they did after WW2. It is possible but I suspect the political will is not there to make it happen. The other option is to have a referendum on our continuing membership of the E.U German Dictatorship. mavrick

1:42pm Fri 29 Jun 12

BritainfortheBritish says...

Yes ! It will be but a dream. At this stage in our country i would also stop all relations of immigrants coming here .Lets be honest most come for a free life while managing to drive around in BMWs etc . I cannot afford this so it galls when immigrants can do it without working . The answer is to stop all benefits to immigrants and have the Australian immigration method .
Yes ! It will be but a dream. At this stage in our country i would also stop all relations of immigrants coming here .Lets be honest most come for a free life while managing to drive around in BMWs etc . I cannot afford this so it galls when immigrants can do it without working . The answer is to stop all benefits to immigrants and have the Australian immigration method . BritainfortheBritish

2:24pm Fri 29 Jun 12

BritainfortheBritish says...

Mavrick. I do not think it is nazi like to move people out of the olympic zone .It,s just common sense . As it would be to spread all immigrants / asylum seekers around cheaper parts of the country . It would in fact save millions. They should be housed in static caravans until they are hopefully deported . When our own people are suffering " more so our pensioners " it is time to put a stop to all that is happening.
Mavrick. I do not think it is nazi like to move people out of the olympic zone .It,s just common sense . As it would be to spread all immigrants / asylum seekers around cheaper parts of the country . It would in fact save millions. They should be housed in static caravans until they are hopefully deported . When our own people are suffering " more so our pensioners " it is time to put a stop to all that is happening. BritainfortheBritish

Comments are closed on this article.

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree