Breaking into Britain

I just finished watching Panorama's Breaking into Britain. It strikes me how selfish one would have to be not to recognise the hardship that drives many people to want to move to the UK. Most of these people are happy - indeed desperate - to work hard for little money (for the standards of most in the UK at least).

While I understand that, pragmatically, we cannot have an open door policy, we clearly need to take action to reduce this problem. We need to encourage better situations in the countries from which most of this migrants originate.

Most people who attempt to migrate illegally to the UK do not do so on a mere whim. The danger, destitution and horrors they face on their journeys just for the chance of a better life demonstrate their sheer desperation. Even if logistically we cannot offer each the opportunity to live in the UK we should treat with respect and tolerance those who are here already and try our best to reduce the push factors that force many of them here in the first place.

I do believe we have to improve our immigration policy. There is significant evidence that the British economy relies on illegal immigration. An amnesty for all illegal immigrants in the UK would increase the government's tax revenue, decrease crime, and vastly improve these people's living conditions.

I just wish this issue and these people's plight provoked sadness and empathy rather than anger and mistrust.