A photograph of a migrant making an offensive gesture while crossing the English Channel has been highlighted as symbolic of a "disastrous approach to immigration" in the UK. Daniel Hannan, writing for the Daily Mail, argues that such images reflect a pervasive disdain for taxpayers fostered by a system that allows abuse.
The accompanying report detailed how new Employment Rights Act provisions allow illegal immigrants to sue employers. Hannan contends this undermines the principle of free contract and the essence of citizenship, which involves both rights and responsibilities.
He cited a case where a Malaysian migrant without a legal right to work in the UK was awarded over £5,000 in a discrimination case by an employment tribunal. This, Hannan suggests, illustrates how rights are being extended to non-nationals, breaking the traditional understanding of an "original compact" between citizens and the state, as theorized by John Locke.
This compact, Hannan explained, implies that citizens obey laws, pay taxes, and perform civic duties in return for protection and access to services. However, he argues that when entitlements are available to those who have entered illegally and are working without permits, this fundamental distinction between members and non-members of the community is eroded.
Hannan contrasted what he described as a "good" immigration policy, which would involve selecting migrants based on skills and potential contribution while ensuring integration, with the current situation. He criticized the process for Channel migrants, suggesting they arrive by breaking the law, often remain through deception, and are aided by legal professionals and charities.
The article posits that immigration policy is largely influenced by "activist judges" and international conventions, rather than being fully controlled by politicians. While most politicians reportedly wish to stop small boat crossings, Hannan suggests that the only effective solution involves withdrawing from international agreements such as the European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Convention on Refugees.
He proposed that the concept of refugee status should be abolished, with the Home Secretary given discretionary power to admit a limited number of individuals annually, subject to parliamentary approval. Hannan concluded that this more selective approach, while potentially strict for some applicants, would ultimately be less detrimental to both migrants and native citizens than the current system.