THE rUK PM asserts that Britain, Britishness, and some form of a “British institution” is recognised and admired across the world, with the connotations that Unionism is working for Scotland here and abroad.
But put those assertions next to his comments about the need to strengthen rUK borders, closing off the UK to migrants via new legislation and even potentially tearing up international agreements post-Brexit, namely Dublin Regulations.
Such actions will add to British greatness? Really! We are well aware that he believes in manipulating legislation to suit himself, so perhaps he feels he can railroad new legislation through Westminster. If that is his belief, I implore the SNP MPs be ready. But before that, think on.
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There is serious consideration being given to instructing the Navy to take up Australian habits like pushing back those fragile craft and their occupants into French waters. This despite the fact that such pushbacks at sea are illegal. But again, what is existing international law unto those such as the PM?
I’ve also heard the opinion from a Rear Admiral on the BBC (it must be true then) that once “they” are here, “they” don’t have to be housed on land but could be put on all those cruise ships floating off shore, albeit in British waters.
This is greatness? It might be “British” to some in their forms of thinking and policy execution, but surely not here for the majority of us in Scotland.
I acknowledge that there is currently a rise in migrants undertaking that perilous journey across the English Channel but we have to remember it is not a crime to seek asylum.
Should we take a moment to note that the majority are from war-ravaged countries such as Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya?
And what of climate change and its impact? We’ve been informed of continuing polar ice melt but fail to recognise the correlation of rising sea levels There’s drought, deluge, famine, crop failures affecting farmers, their families and their supply chains. Or will that only matter when it becomes “our” food chain?
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There is a recognised pattern that the majority of migrants initially move from their own localised disaster area to towns and cities before attempting to leave their homeland to cross continents.
UN reports recognise that Syria and the Democratic Republic of Congo have the highest number of internal displaced persons, Bangladesh now hosts thousands of Myanmar refugees, and the UNHCR Global Trends Forced Displacement Report 2018 confirmed even then that one-third of the global refugee population, 6.7 million people, were refugees in the least developed countries.
Turkey, Pakistan and Uganda are near the top of these host counties, as well as Lebanon. What future now in Lebanon for all its people?
Attempting to pushback inflatables, having the rUK Navy entering French waters unilaterally, tearing up international agreements does not make for great Britishness.
Addressing the issue of refugees will be aided by recognising people not as economic units either producing or detracting from a country’s economy but by determining and enacting what each country can humanely do to assist other human beings in times of great need.
But it would be even better to address the needs and requirements in the “home countries” in the first instance, and enabling change.
I hope that in the coming months and early years of independence, Scotland shows its greatness towards those less well off than ourselves.
Selma Rahman
Edinburgh
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