26th September 2021
Ebeneezer Blackadder:
In fact, there is something in your stocking, Baldrick, something I made for you.
Baldrick:
Ah, well that’s the best kind of gift, Mr. B. What is it?
Ebeneezer Blackadder:
It’s a fist. It’s for hitting people with. See?
– Blackadder’s Christmas Carol (1988)
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The government’s proposal was daft to begin with.
An extraordinary proposal, even for this government.
And just in case you would not believe me, here is the BBC tweet announcing it – and the BBC’s name is good upon ’Change, for anything it choses to put its name to.
5,000 overseas lorry drivers and 5,500 poultry workers will be eligible for three-month UK visas until Christmas Eve https://t.co/g9bCbEtucP
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) September 25, 2021
The necessary implication of the government’s proposal is that by automatic operation of law these lorry drivers who will deliver our Christmas goods and these poultry workers who will provide the Christmas turkeys will become illegal aliens at the stroke of midnight on Christmas Eve.
What a Christmas present for those who choose to come over here to provide services, goods and food for those of us in Great Britain.
The following tweet on this is (I think) intended as satire:
BREAKING: Home Secretary announces plan to set up task force to deport any EU lorry drivers who remain in the U.K. after 24th Dec.
Ms Patel said “It is a special privilege for lorry drivers to be able come here and work and it shouldn’t be abused”— Michael Lambert (@MichaelLamberta) September 25, 2021
But as Zoe Gardner observes, it it not far off the actual legal position:
I mean… Apparently this is satire?
You do know that if you overstay your non-extendable non-renewable 3-month visa you ARE LITERALLY liable for deportation, right?
Like hahaha she'll try to deport you if you don't leave haha imagine, no LITERALLY that is what happens??? https://t.co/BTybWgplhl
— Zoe Gardner (@ZoeJardiniere) September 26, 2021
She is right: that would be the legal position on Christmas Day.
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And as this blog averred yesterday, there is no reason to believe this quick fix will work in any case.
Let us remember what happened last year.
Would you like a three month visa until Christmas Eve, having been effectively interned in a car park for the duration of the holiday period when you tried to work for us last year https://t.co/I75c92MApR
— Hannah Rose Woods (@hannahrosewoods) September 26, 2021
There is thereby no particular reason to think there will be a rush of workers wanting to help Great Britain out at this time of need.
And so the proposal may become an(other) example of the post-Brexit government discovering that the many problems created by Brexit are not capable of quick easy solutions.
Inviting such workers on terms where – once they have delivered Christmas goods in their lorries and helped provide the turkeys for Christmas dinners – they will literally become illegal aliens at the strike of midnight – is a thing not even Charles Dickens would have imagined.
To adapt Blackadder:
Ebeneezer Blackadder:
Thank you for helping save the British Christmas, there is something in your stocking, something I made for you.
EU migrant worker:
Ah, well that’s the best kind of gift, Mr. B. What is it?
Ebeneezer Blackadder:
It’s a deportation order. It’s for deporting people with. See?
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