Britain leaving the E.U.

If France had any sense (whoops an oxymoron there) they would return them whence they came. Italy would then have to boat them back.
We do not want people coming here who have no visible means of self-support. End of.

So where is my compassion? I don't have any left. It all went with the 'Windrush' and the 'Ex-Raj'.

We no longer have an Empire upon which we can 'rape' back the costs. Those days are gone and with them comes a strong sense of self-survival. So - Go back home. Take to the streets if you have to. Throw out the corrupt bastards who have been sucking you dry for aeons and instil some decency into your governing bodies. It's your house - put the bloody thing in order. We had to.

Britain and France have been 'negotiating' to find a solution to the Calais situation for some years now. The problem continuues to get bigger in terms of the number of refugees camped there, the cost of everything, the dangers. Will the politicians be able to sort something out or, will refugees join the Calais canoe club.

Politicians only ever make a bigger mess wherever and whenever they get involved. The root of the problem is where one starts. Bandages and sticking plasters never heal the internal problems. So - if you are not prepared to tackle the 'problem' head on don't expect to resolve.

If one is serious one goes to the heads of the problem and bangs those heads together - alternatively one fences off the problem without compunction.
All this nannying around in-between will solve nothing.

Stop the rot where it starts -. Whenever was it not so?

More fences doesn't look like a good answer, will numbers carry on increasing ?

Bigger and better fences = More and more people. The problem with fences is that they fence IN as well as OUT. No good will come of that approach. Sticking plaster.

Co-operation between England and France to resolve the situation at Calais doesn't seem to be going too well.

That's because they are French. I think on balance we have been at 'war/loggerheads' with France for more years over the last century than we have been 'Entente Cordiale'. So what's new?

The problem with France is that for all her weaknesses and failings she cannot reconcile that 'English' has, after all their strenuous efforts to crush it, become the language world wide of business and diplomacy. So much so that they legislate their broadcasting media with 'requirements for the French language, music and arts' in copious amounts to 'keep out' the use of English and its accoutrements. How can one expect 'agreement' with such jingoistic machinations cluttering the foreground? Ces pas possible!

[quote="cyfrifia"] or, will refugees join the Calais canoe club.
[/quote]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-33584706

Something is obviously wrong that refugees are desperate to escape from one major european country to another.

They simply believe they will be treated better by the authorities here than elsewhere in Europe. In that I am sure they are probably correct. However - they would still face deportation if found unacceptable to the required criteria. Unless of course they didn't declare themselves on arrival or at any other time, in which case they would have all the problems that 'illegals' face now.
I don't blame them and would no doubt do something similar if I were in their shoes. Fortunately I am not. I doubt I would try and swim the Channel or even try and row it. It can be very unforgiving. As can I if this government doesn't get its finger out and plug up the holes through which these people keep sneaking.

Does France treat refugees so badly that they would rather risk their lives than live there? Standards should be reasonably comparable.

France has never been as 'accepting' as we here have been. They have a very long relationship with our coloured brethren in that North Africa was for aeons part of the French Empire. They have a larger percentage of 'non-pure Caucasian' citizens and also have a long history of anti-Semitism/anti-coloured head-lopping citizens most of which is never reported here across this side of the Moat.
Be under no illusions, if the French could rid themselves of 'all' their 'non-whites' they would do so in a flash. Some of my best friends are 'Gaullists. Not a pleasant sight if roused.

Seems that is the way. More burning tyres at Calais today, toxic smoke, seems a bit of a disaster area altogether.

Fire. Smoke - and Mirrors. It's all a ploy to intimidate Westminster. I don't think our lot are falling for it.

They don't seem to be falling, or doing anything much. Management of motorways in Kent might be handed over to UK LorryParks Ltd. Whichever way you understand it, the situation around Calais is not good. Any situation involving part worn tyres is best avoided, especially when they are being burned.

When in doubt - do nowt. One has to wait until the smoke clears to get a good rational view of the situation. So we wait -.

This wait and see policy seems to have been running steadily for quite some time.

Yes. It is very much a question of 'who blinks first'. He who does will be the looser.

From the freight trades POV I would have been looking for alternative routes to the Continent long before now. You save nothing by sitting on a Motorway for two days.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Now where have I heard that before??

Given sufficient supplies of sticky tape and matchsticks, distributed daily along the motorways of Kent, the UK is well placed to win this 'no blinking' competition. A reality television programme to be named 'Stares in the eyes' is being planned.

It's certainly no less a dumb idea than most of which we are treated to on today's television offerings. What's the latest pearl of wisdom from America - Oh yes - Of course - 'King of the Nerds'. A classic low budget melange of tripe usually compiled for Children's Television when all else has been tried. But of course this is for 'grow-ups'. Well I say 'grown-ups' but of course who can tell these days? If I wasn't so old I would try complaining but I really feel I shouldn't waste my remaining years, although that could be quite a few come to think about it, on fighting the good fight because NOBODY'S LISTENING!

You are not wrong, it seems, Atlas, nobody's listening here anyhow. As for the E.U. referendum, several lorryloads of eurofudge are presently sitting on the motorway in Kent.

Things will only change this side when the insurers say 'no more'. When it begins to seriously hit the hauliers pockets. Then they will find alternatives or start burning their trucks.

The Chief Constable of Kent explained to the House of Commons comittee that the underlying problem is the number, 5,000 and growing, of illegal migrants in Calais.

Strikes and delays are on top of that. Kent police have never found any people trying to get out of the UK in lorries, but   have found amounts of money.

The Constable agreed that people smugglers now operating in Calais may well be bringing immigrants over the channel in small boats and landing them on the many small beaches in Kent.

Director of Public Affairs, Eurotunnel, John Keefe wearing a pink tie, reported it is expected many more thousands of immigrants will continue to arrive at Calais via people smuggling routes across the Sahara. An estimated 8% of immigrants that cross the mediterranean arrive at Calais.

Road Haulage Chief Exec. Described the situation as a crisis, estimated the cost at over a billion a year, and described underpolicing on the French side, with "impunity" for people smuggling gangs, and immigrants being electrocuted.

The House of Commons committee, chaired by Kieth Vaz who wore a mint green tie, heard accounts of lorry drivers being threatened with weapons, and very little response from French police. The situation is described as dire, chaos, dangerous, mayhem, an unprecedented crisis. Everyone had a nice chat and there we are. Time for a nice cup of tea.

James Brokenshire, Minister for Immigration, wearing a vivid purple tie, then appeared to chat with Kieth Vaz. A discussion on tatoos seemed out of place on this occasion, but perhaps is a shared interest.

Mr. Vaz told the Minister that there is a crisis at Calais, with people dying and billions of pounds being lost. The minister recommended more fences. Mr. Vaz didn't think this was a complete answer. The minister looked a bit surprised and started to wave his hands about and blather on for a bit with some buzzwords; and wiggled his eyebrows about to distract attention. Everyone started to look rather bored and slump into afternoon snooze mode.

Mr. Vaz tried to liven it up again with some mention of days out, but the Minister for Immigration had never been to Calais, so that subject rather fizzled out. There may have been some problem with ventilation in the committee room, as people became rather comatose and said the same things over and over again. Mr. Vaz managed to stay or look alert, either he thrives on low oxygen or manages to sit in a draught from the door. Such skills are essential for chairing such meetings.

This borders alongside the previous comments of - - - talk, talk, talk.

Nobody has an answer that is acceptable under the present legislations and therefore nobody will come forward to sort things out properly. Buck passing is the order of the day - meanwhile - the dance goes on.

The French could sort things out better if they wanted to.