Long past time the French take action.

[PurpleGorilla]

Every time we interfere in other countries we make things worse.

Europe spend more on ice cream each year than what it would cost to provide clean drinking water globally.

http://www.globalissues.org/article/...acts-and-stats

[DodgyAgent]

The solution, is to improve the quality of life in Africa and the Middle East, to reduce the compelling need to migrate.

The trouble is the folks who call for deportation also call for foreign aid cuts. And so the wheel turns...

How does giving people money (that usually ends up in the hands of corrupt politicians and administrators) help anything?

Are you prepared to argue that if we even trebled the amount of aid it would make any difference?

[VectraMan]

We're an island, the only thing stopping it being an island is the chunnel

So why not close the channel tunnel, freight could go via Holland instead of France

If it's not immigration, it's the annual strikes and blockades in Calais that make the place unsuitable for haulage

Holidaymakers will still have ferries in Dover, or Poole if they're desperate, but pushing the freight through a country that hates us less might be worth a try

Now there's some UKIP logic.

The UK isn't an island. We have a land border with another EU country.

[PurpleGorilla]

How does giving people money (that usually ends up in the hands of corrupt politicians and administrators) help anything?

Are you prepared to argue that if we even trebled the amount of aid it would make any difference?

Isn't the definition of an idiot to keep doing the same thing hoping for a different result. Taking the fence climbers 10km down the road and letting them out of the bus is not a solution.

If the western world was more united, and got behind the UN more, then maybe some good can come to these places. I donate to MSF, they do good, give them more money!

[xoggoth]

Are you prepared to argue that if we even trebled the amount of aid it would make any difference?

Studies show foreign aid is often very ineffective in raising GDP. Emigration does worse than nothing as remittances, like foreign aid, have little effect on GDP and it also takes away those who at least are fit enough and have the initiative to look for something better.

However, there is a case for spending money in a way that could help both sides, boosting trade with poorer countries so they can supply us with the lower cost goods and services that are no longer economic for us, while we in turn rely more on technology and reduce the need for a low skilled workforce.

China's hard headed trade deals do more for Africa than our aid does. The West needs to review its misguided "compassionate" approach.

[MicrosoftBob]

Now there's some UKIP logic.

The UK isn't an island. We have a land border with another EU country.

We are an island, just because the EUSSR thinks otherwise doesn't make it true

[PurpleGorilla]

We are an island, just because the EUSSR thinks otherwise doesn't make it true

Actually we are several islands, one of which has a land border - Ireland.

[PurpleGorilla]

Wow so much compassion!

[MicrosoftBob]

Actually we are several islands, one of which has a land border - Ireland.

But not a direct land border, you have to get a ferry over to Holyhead to drive, they haven't got a tunnel from Ireland

[DodgyAgent]

Isn't the definition of an idiot to keep doing the same thing hoping for a different result. Taking the fence climbers 10km down the road and letting them out of the bus is not a solution.

If the western world was more united, and got behind the UN more, then maybe some good can come to these places. I donate to MSF, they do good, give them more money!

As long as you feel better about yourself that is all that matters