My opinions come from volunteering in the sector for more than a decade, from having 27 refugees living with me over the last four years, from dealing with the Home Office, reading the reports and the books (would you like a reading list? It might help).The UK is not a soft touch - but we do have soft power: benefits are better in many European countries and of course the vast majority of people fleeing violence or persecution stay either in the countries around their own or in Germany, France, Italy, Sweden or Greece - all of which take a larger number than the UK.The relatively small number of asylum-seekers who come here are joining family or community or have learnt some English but not German or French... or think they can because English is everywhere (hence the soft power) Some poor misguided ones come here because they think the UK is that beacon of fairness that it used to be.And it's true our police don't beat up those claiming asylum, as they do in other countries such as Hungary and France. But no doubt you think that's being a soft touch too...
Sara Nathan ● 1299d