UK Home Secretary Suella Braverman has pledged to do “whatever it takes” to deal with the migrant crisis in the English Channel, which has seen 43,000 men, women and children make the perilous journey so far this year.
Ms Braverman said the numbers were “wholly unacceptable and unsustainable” and that ministers would “comprehensively tackle the small boats problem”.
She made her comments in a foreword to a report by the centre-right Centre for Policy Studies think tank which called for new laws barring migrants who enter illegally from ever settling in the UK and the indefinite detention of asylum seekers arriving in the UK illegally.
It called for the overhaul of human rights laws — with the UK “if necessary” withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights — to allow detentions and offshoring the processing of asylum claims.
Obstacles to asylum
The UK government is likely to amend legislation to lower the number of asylum seekers.
Despite outcry from lawyers and activists, the Nationality and Borders Act became law earlier this year, creating new obstacles for people seeking asylum in the UK.
Though touted as a win against “illegal migration”, lawyers do not expect the legislation to affect the number of people arriving in Britain — just how they are dealt with.
“It will make life difficult for everyone in the system because it has muddied the waters,” Chris Cole, a British immigration lawyer with two decades of experience working on asylum claims, told The National.
“But it doesn’t address the fundamental flaws in the system which is ultimately about processing claims in a reasonable time frame.”
Refugee and human rights charities say the massive backlog in undecided claims is the real asylum crisis and one that needs extra resources — not more legislation — to resolve.
A backlog problem
Last month, MPs learnt that the Home Office only processed 4 per cent of asylum applications made by migrants who had crossed the Channel last year.
Of those claims that were decided, 85 per cent were granted refugee status or another protection status.
There is a backlog of 100,000 claims.
It costs about £5.6 million a day to house those awaiting decisions on their claims, amid revelations about “wretched” conditions in Manston asylum centre, in Kent, south-east England, and hotels used by the Home Office.
After admitting that “not enough” asylum applications are being processed, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the government would increase the number of processing officials by 80 per cent in a bid to “treble” the Home Office’s target regarding the number of decisions made.
But there are concerns over the skills of those being hired and the quality of services being provided.
A recent investigation by The Observer revealed that the Home Office is hiring asylum decision makers from customer service and sales positions at fast-food restaurants and supermarkets, who have “no prior experience or knowledge of the asylum system”.
New laws, more delays
As it is only came into effect in June, the impact of the Nationality and Borders Act on migration remains unclear but lawyers argue that its provisions are only likely to add to the government’s mounting caseload.
Increasing the burden of proof on claims, adjusting the definition of refugee or differentiating between applicants based on how they arrive in the country are all likely to increase appeals while at the same time keeping claimants in limbo, said Steve Valdez-Symonds, refugee and migrant rights programme director at Amnesty International UK.
“We will have a new backlog of people who the government will be spending enormous resources trying to return to places where they will be persecuted and people will obviously resist that in all sorts of ways, including if need be going underground,” Mr Valdez-Symonds told The National.
And children are the most vulnerable group. In October, it was revealed that more than 100 unaccompanied minors had gone missing in a year from Home Office-provided housing.
“So, we will build up bigger numbers of people held in detention centres and we will build up work for the home office in trying to manage a population of people who will not keep in contact with it … and that will cost the system an awful lot of money,” Mr Valdez-Symonds said.
Will offshoring Britain's problems solve them?
The UK justice system is also where the fate of the government’s plans to send asylum seekers to Rwanda, in Central Africa, is currently being decided.
A judicial review was heard at the High Court in October but judges have yet to deliver their judgment.
Mr Cole, former chairman of the Law Society’s immigration committee, said he would be “surprised” if the judges rule the policy unlawful but thought the courts would require a higher threshold and procedural preparation for individual deportations to be approved.
“So, if there is anyone going there, it won’t be on the scale that the Home Office wants,” he said.
Brexit has made the removals of asylum seekers from the UK harder to do. Under the EU’s Dublin Agreement, refugees can be sent back to their point of entry to the bloc.
Britain has not yet negotiated bilateral deals to do the same with European members.
Europe has also been blamed for stalling the UK’s domestic arrangements to curb migration. It was the European Court of Human Rights that stopped the Rwanda flight from taking off in June, reigniting the debate about Britain’s national sovereignty.
Although the European Convention on Human Rights is an international treaty exercised in the European courts, it is related to the Council of Europe, not the EU.
Does Britain need a new Bill of Rights?
Nevertheless, the recent revival of the British Bill of Rights by Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary Dominic Raab is another way the government is using the law to deal with the current crisis.
Mr Raab is expected to return the legislation — giving the UK courts supremacy over the ECHR — to Parliament “in the coming weeks”.
Justice, a law reform organisation, has said it is “dismayed” by the return of the Bill of Rights, which had been shelved under former prime minister Liz Truss.
“This divisive legislation looks to undermine human rights protections that protect everyone, with the stated aim of giving legal cover to hardline immigration policies such as the forced deportation of asylum seekers to Rwanda,” an official said.
Even if the Bill of Rights does not make a “radical change” in the migrant crisis, Amnesty said it will still “lean on our courts”.
“It doesn't necessarily have a lot to say about the asylum system, although there's obviously the provision about trying to escape the oversight of the European Court over interim measures to prevent returns,” said Mr Valdez-Symonds.
“It is all part of this ratcheting up of the idea that all of these international legal standards to which we are obliged, along with others, are in some way badly and wrongly imposed upon us by international legal standards that it is improper to expect us to meet.”
The Home Office has previously said that their policies are aimed at deterring people from making the dangerous crossings in the first place.
But Mr Valdez-Symonds said it may not result in the deterrent effect government ministers are after, as vulnerable people prepared to make these dangerous journeys will continue do so, but perhaps less publicly.
“You might deter people from entering your asylum system, which is not the same as deterring them from arriving,” he said.
“If that happens, you may end up with the number of asylum claims reducing, but the number of people here increasing and the number of people who are here in extremely vulnerable and dangerous circumstances being exploited with all the associated costs for the Home Office to deal with an increased population of undocumented and unregistered people it does not know about.”
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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The biog
Mission to Seafarers is one of the largest port-based welfare operators in the world.
It provided services to around 200 ports across 50 countries.
They also provide port chaplains to help them deliver professional welfare services.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
UAE jiu-jitsu squad
Men: Hamad Nawad and Khalid Al Balushi (56kg), Omar Al Fadhli and Saeed Al Mazroui (62kg), Taleb Al Kirbi and Humaid Al Kaabi (69kg), Mohammed Al Qubaisi and Saud Al Hammadi (70kg), Khalfan Belhol and Mohammad Haitham Radhi (85kg), Faisal Al Ketbi and Zayed Al Kaabi (94kg)
Women: Wadima Al Yafei and Mahra Al Hanaei (49kg), Bashayer Al Matrooshi and Hessa Al Shamsi (62kg)
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
ABU DHABI T10: DAY TWO
Bangla Tigers v Deccan Gladiators (3.30pm)
Delhi Bulls v Karnataka Tuskers (5.45pm)
Northern Warriors v Qalandars (8.00pm)
Company profile
Name: Dukkantek
Started: January 2021
Founders: Sanad Yaghi, Ali Al Sayegh and Shadi Joulani
Based: UAE
Number of employees: 140
Sector: B2B Vertical SaaS(software as a service)
Investment: $5.2 million
Funding stage: Seed round
Investors: Global Founders Capital, Colle Capital Partners, Wamda Capital, Plug and Play, Comma Capital, Nowais Capital, Annex Investments and AMK Investment Office
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The specs: Fenyr SuperSport
Price, base: Dh5.1 million
Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 800hp @ 7,100pm
Torque: 980Nm @ 4,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 13.5L / 100km
The specs
Engine: Direct injection 4-cylinder 1.4-litre
Power: 150hp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: From Dh139,000
On sale: Now
Overview
What: The Arab Women’s Sports Tournament is a biennial multisport event exclusively for Arab women athletes.
When: From Sunday, February 2, to Wednesday, February 12.
Where: At 13 different centres across Sharjah.
Disciplines: Athletics, archery, basketball, fencing, Karate, table tennis, shooting (rifle and pistol), show jumping and volleyball.
Participating countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Qatar and UAE.
Dolittle
Director: Stephen Gaghan
Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen
One-and-a-half out of five stars
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
Babumoshai Bandookbaaz
Director: Kushan Nandy
Starring: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bidita Bag, Jatin Goswami
Three stars
Stamp duty timeline
December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%
April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.
July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.
March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.
April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.
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Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
