‘ The government was right yesterday to condemn “thuggish and intimidating” behaviour from protesters in Portsmouth on Sunday after similar scenes in Dover. Anti-migrant rhetoric and online hate tidal wave has empowered hooligans’
Right-wing thugs branding heroes who rescued migrants off Portsmouth as “traitors” is sickening. Crews at the Royal National Lifeboat Institute assist anyone in trouble on the water. They have saved countless lives at sea and deserve our gratitude – not abuse.
The government was right yesterday to condemn “thuggish and intimidating” behaviour from protesters in Portsmouth on Sunday after similar scenes in Dover. Hundreds of angry hooligans have been empowered after years of anti-migrant rhetoric and a tidal wave of online hatred.
None of us should welcome the sight of men, women and children crossing the Channel on dangerous dinghies. But nor should we fall for the idea that there’s an easy fix. Smuggling gangs know that since Brexit, the UK has no returns agreement with the EU and a limited agreement with France.
Despite this, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood can point to some successes. This summer had the fewest arrivals since 2020. And in spite of the masked thugs, we are and always will be a compassionate country.
Tricky choices
John Healey was right to tell an “optimistic story” about Britain in his first speech as Chancellor. The feelgood factor was notably lacking during Keir Starmer’s first months in office.
But the new Chancellor is also right to be under no illusion the country faces a tricky Budget. And we are clear the burden must fall on those with the broadest shoulders. The government has given families some breathing space but there must be bolder action in October’s high-stakes Budget.
Space cadet
Donald Trump’s proposal of a Star Wars-style uniform for his Space Force appears to have missed the point. What looked like an AI-generated image of the costumes appears to have cast Trump’s US as the sinister villains…