Nigel Farage has been urged to issue an apology for his involvement in exacerbating the current small boat crisis by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey. Speaking at the party’s conference in Bournemouth, Sir Ed called for accountability from the Reform leader, highlighting the impact of the loss of a returns agreement post-Brexit, which critics argue empowered human traffickers facilitating Channel crossings.
This call for apology comes shortly after a conference session suggested renaming small boats as “Brexit boats.” Sir Ed emphasized the significance of the 27 return agreements with EU countries that the UK had prior to Brexit, enabling the return of individuals. However, he attributed the current crisis to the actions of Nigel Farage, Boris Johnson, and the Conservatives for terminating these agreements, leading to the existing challenges.
Sir Ed further explained that the UK’s exit from the EU resulted in the loss of access to the Dublin agreement, a system that allowed for the return of asylum seekers to their initial entry country. This, according to him, contributed to attracting more individuals to the UK since the country lost its ability to return them to Europe.
Regarding the term “Brexit boats,” a delegate from the Mole Valley Liberal Democrats group proposed its adoption as a soundbite, suggesting a connection to the Dublin agreement, which the UK ceased to be part of upon exiting the European Union. Critics of Sir Ed’s stance have countered by arguing the limitations of the Dublin agreement and questioning its effectiveness in addressing the current situation.
Statistics from the Home Office indicate that between 2015 and 2018, the UK made approximately 18,953 outgoing requests for transferring individuals to other EU states, with only 1,395 people being successfully transferred. Conversely, the UK received around 7,365 incoming requests to transfer individuals, of which 2,365 were approved for entry.
Critics, including Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, have pushed back against Sir Ed’s assertions, accusing him of revising history and pointing out the low acceptance rate of outgoing requests under the Dublin agreement.