Last year the UK Government theorised that letting people drown would end the sea crossings

[Surya Gayatri]

UK government still opposes rescue missions in the Mediterranean despite 950 migrants drowning
in one day



The Government has ignored calls to back restored search and rescue missions in the Mediterranean after 950 people drowned on a boat crossing to Europe.

Reinstating the rescue missions, which the UK government has previously said it opposes, pointedly does not feature in the Foreign Secretary’s response to the latest mass deaths.

In a statement released on Sunday Philip Hammond blamed ‘traffickers’ for encouraging people to flee conflicts and come to Europe but was silent on helping families who might drown in future.

“We must target the traffickers who are responsible for so many people dying at sea and prevent their innocent victims from being tricked or forced into making these perilous journeys,” he said, calling for a “comprehensive, co-ordinated response” to the regular deaths.

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When the rescue missions were ended in October last year the UK Government said it believed the prospect of being saved from drowning in the event of an accident encouraged people to make the journey.

I guess this is what you might call 'Compassionate Conservatism - UK Style'

Let's hope the Brits have enough innate and genuine compassion to boot this Government out in a few weeks.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

1. The only genuine reason to support...

...rescuing people is that they're people. What makes it right to leave folks in danger? Haven't nations started wars over this? Why is it so popular to start a war to save people (as oxymoronic as that sounds) but so unpopular to just save people?

[Surya Gayatri]

2. Because wars are profitable to many. Rescuing people? Not so much...