The scenes of thousands of migrants camping in Calais and trying to gain illegal access to the port and a passage into the UK are truly disturbing. It is a humanitarian tragedy as well as a considerable policing and security challenge.
First and foremost, our responsibility is to ensure that we protect our borders. Under a fair and transparent system of managing immigration, those who qualify to come to Britain can gain access and those who don’t have the proper papers or meet the entry criteria, have no right to come here. The Government has invested in strengthening our borders, through access points like the Port of Dover, and the Channel Tunnel terminal at Cheriton. We have created a dedicated UK Border force to detect smuggling and people trafficking. The number of border staff have been increased to nearly eight and a half thousand; with 400 additional posts filled since 2010. The Border Force is using patrol ships to monitor for and intercept any small boats carrying people trying to enter our country illegally. Following the NATO summit last week in Wales, we have also offered the security fencing used there, to the French authorities to improve the resilience of the barriers at the Calais port.
Home Office Ministers are actively discussing the situation in Calais with the French authorities, but we are clear with them that our border controls will be rigorously enforced. There should be greater efforts though across Europe to prevent people seeking to smuggle themselves illegally into the European Union. People doing so put their lives and life savings into the hands of extremely dangerous people traffickers, on the hope of securing a passage to Europe. The message needs to be sent our clearly that it is not worth making these extremely dangerous journeys, because people without the legal means to enter countries like the UK will not be granted access.
This week the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that the government will freeze rail fares for next year so they are only allowed to rise in line with inflation, and no more. This will mean that the rail companies will not be raising fares further as had been feared. This welcome measure is in response to concerns raised by MPs in Kent and across the country, about the costs of commuting and rail travel in general.
Last Saturday was ‘Non League Day’ when football fans across the country were encouraged to support their local non league teams. I enjoyed an entertaining afternoon taking my son Hugo to watch Folkestone Invicta come back from behind to draw two-two with Merstham. Earlier in the week we had debated the future of non league football in the House of Commons. As with all levels of professional and semi professional football in England, too many clubs get themselves into too much debt, and run into financial problems. The board and management at Folkestone Invicta have done an excellent job over the last year to stabilise the club's finances. Across the country more should be done though to prevent bad financial management and poor performance from club owners and directors. The FA should be prepared to intervene before a crisis point is reached, as too often action comes too late and it is the fans that suffer most when their club fails.