By Polly Tickle
UK’s Selective Sight: Boats in Focus, Planes in the Blind Spot
In the latest chapter of the United Kingdom’s political theatre, the Tory government’s spotlight has been firmly fixed on the drama of migration by sea, a narrative so captivating that it has seemingly rendered any other mode of entry invisible, particularly those arriving by the far less theatrical means of air. This selective vision has left many questioning whether the government’s immigration policy is more about stage management than addressing the issue at hand.
As the Tories decry the increase in small boats braving the English Channel, a curious silence envelops the topic of those who simply fly in and overstay their welcome. This group, constituting the majority of illegal immigration to the UK, apparently lacks the dramatic flair necessary to make it onto the political stage. It’s as if the government, in its role as director of this performance, has decided that planes just don’t have the same box office appeal as boats.
Further thickening the plot, the government’s steadfast refusal to entertain the idea of establishing a migrant processing centre in France—a proposal with the potential to reduce the maritime crossings to a mere trickle—adds a layer of irony so rich it could be a storyline straight out of a Dickens novel. The French, it seems, are ready to set the stage for a solution, but the UK is reluctant to buy a ticket to the show.
This steadfast focus on boats, while ignoring the larger issue of plane arrivals, paints a picture of a government more interested in the optics of control than the efficacy of its policies. Critics argue that this approach is akin to bailing out water with a sieve, an effort that looks busy but achieves little. The narrative is set, the spotlight calibrated, and the audience (the British public) is treated to a performance where the most significant act (plane arrivals) occurs offstage, out of sight and out of mind.
The refusal to consider a joint venture with France for a migrant centre has left commentators bemused, likening it to turning down a lifeboat because it doesn’t match the decor. It’s a decision that seems to prioritize political posturing over practical solutions, leading to a situation where the end of the boat saga remains as distant as ever.
As the Tory government continues to weaponize migration in its public discourse, focusing narrowly on the spectacle of small boats, the UK’s immigration policy remains a tale of selective observation and missed opportunities. The country watches on, waiting for the moment when all modes of entry are given equal billing on the political stage, and effective solutions take precedence over theatrical politics.