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As Nigel Farage prepares to launch Ukip’s campaign for Britain to leave the European Union, the migrant crisis is something that plays right into his wheelhouse.
Of course Nigel would have some thoughts on what is becoming a major EU headache, and a Brussels embarrassment of biblical proportions.
Via the Telegraph…
The Ukip leader said the European Union has “opened the door to an exodus of biblical proportions” as thousands of people flee from war-torn countries such as Syria and Eritrea.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Britain should follow Austria’s lead in tightening up checks at borders to prevent illegal immigrants entering the country.
Mr Farage said: “The EU have sent a message that anybody who comes across the Mediterranean or comes through Turkey, once they have set foot in an EU country they will be accepted.
“That’s sent a message to hundreds of thousands of people that they can come.”
“Genuine” refugees had historically tended to be members of ethnic or religious groups fleeing for their lives said Mr Farage.
But he said: “The problem we have now is if you look at the definition of the EU’s asylum policy, it includes anybody who comes from a war-torn country and it even includes people leaving extreme poverty.
“The problem we’ve got is potentially we’ve opened the door to an exodus of biblical proportions, meaning millions and millions of people. We’ve lost sight of what is a genuine refugee.
“How many millions does Europe want to take? That really is the question.”
Britain should offer refugee status to “a few thousand people” from Syria but cannot provide an open door to migrants, he said.
“I think we are going to have to start doing what the Austrians did yesterday,” said Mr Farage.
“The Austrians stopped lorries and stopped cars and checked and found 200 people who were smuggled trying to come into their country.
“We are going to have to accept that crossing borders is going to get more difficult if we are serious about dealing with illegal immigration.”
It comes as Mr Farage prepares to launch Ukip’s campaign for Britain to leave the European Union.
He admitted that he did want to lead the official No campaign during the EU referendum but would be happy for Ukip to work alongside whichever campaign is nominated as the official opposition to Britain remaining.
Mr Farage acknowledged that Ukip deputy chairman Suzanne Evans had described him as too divisive to lead the official No campaign, but added: “She also said we shouldn’t major on immigration in the referendum, which I think is wrong.”
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The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of this site. This site does not give financial, investment or medical advice.
