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Originally Posted by Damien
That proof isn't there or isn't convincing. How do you know that these immigrants wouldn't come anyway and attempt to get in via other means? We did try to stop the rescue attempts at sea and people came anyway nor is there a test case we can use to show that it is policy of admitting migrants than cause them to come.
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Do me a favour.
You only have to see what happened after Merkel's ill judged comments for as much proof as you'll ever get in a situation like this. Do you really think that if Cameron suddenly announced an open door and guaranteed permanent refuge, loads more wouldn't head straight here in order to find a better life? Whether economic migrants or genuine refugees, these people are desperate and there a countless more millions who are just as desperate. I don't think you really believe they wouldn't come here if a major stumbling block in their way was suddenly removed. The very fact that Australia has to a large extent solved what was a growing problem there by doing the opposite and being much tougher only adds to the argument IMHO. It didn't stop the boats on day one, week one or month one - it took time, but slowly as the word got around that migrants would be stopped from getting to the mainland and taken to some island in the middle of nowhere the numbers fell massively.
In the case of Europe, it's unlikely we can get those already well on the way to turn back now but we do need to stop more following on behind. We need to stop encouraging them to make that journey and help them much closer to home.