Livio Andrea Acerbo (@AcerboLivio) on X

Global Insights May 16, 2025: China’s Visa Breakthrough, Diplomatic Moves & Urgent Health Alerts #ChinaVisaFree, #LatinAmericaTravel, #UkraineRussiaTalks, #GermanyBorderSecurity, #UKAsylumPolicy, #NATOSpending, #MeaslesOutbreak, #IsraelGazaConflict, #GlobalDiplomacy,

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In a week when you really have to strain to see any good news anywhere, here's one little chink of light.

Finally, the U.K. no longer has asylum seekers staying on the Bibby Stockholm prison barge.

#UKAsylumPolicy
#RefugeesWelcome

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/nov/26/final-asylum-seekers-have-now-left-the-bibby-stockholm

Final asylum seekers have now left the Bibby Stockholm

Most claims from 400 men on vessel moored in Portland, Dorset have been processed, with majority accepted

The Guardian

I know this is a dark assessment of the dark place we're at in the U.K. right now. But don't have dark thoughts.

We are moving slowly but unstoppably forwards. Towards a place where people trafficking is no longer a viable business, we have safe routes for refugees, and we will probably see some kind of amnesty for any illegal migrants still in the country. Compassion is coming.

Because the night won't last forever.

/6
#UKAsylumPolicy
#RefugeesWelcome
#SafeRoutes
#SafeRoutes
#SafeRoutes

So, the U.K. government are now rounding up illegal migrants and deporting them.

"That's outrageous!
They should leave them alone!
We should let the good people shelter
them and take care of them.
Where's our compassion?"

That was my first thought. Then I thought more. Researched it. Listened to experts.

My response was the right one. In theory.

The reality is that while it's a nice idea, it's not how this works. Not at all.

/1

#UKAsylumPolicy
#RefugeesWelcome
#SafeRoutes

The other inconvenient truth about immigration to the U.K.

It puts a strain on public services. We need more housing, health and education.

It's just a numbers thing. It's nobody's fault, certainly not the immigrants. It's the government's job to manage the increase and make sure there is enough to go round. It's the hard work they need to be doing.

It's their failures that leave the rest of us blaming each other.

Why don't they tell us this truth?

#UKAsylumPolicy
#UKImmigration

The 'British' should read every last word of this by Nesrine Malik, Including and especially Keir Starmer. We need the truth to be told about immigration. The real truth.

"The real truth is that Britain is a nation that has miraculously expanded, absorbed and assimilated people from all over the world, one that has manifested the best and most natural of human impulses – to get along and make a common home."

#UKAsylumPolicy

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/aug/19/riots-keir-starmer-racist-anti-immigration-narratives-truth

After the riots, Keir Starmer should tell us the truth about our country. This is why he won’t

The violence exposed racist narratives based on lies. Yet where is the counter-argument, asks Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik

The Guardian

"This is Britain. We don’t live in Gotham City, waiting for a mayor to clean the streets of villains. We are not just atomised individuals running our own public limited companies, but part of something bigger, part of a nation that has miraculously expanded, absorbed and assimilated people from all over the world, one that has manifested the best and most natural of human impulses – to get along and make a common home."

Nesrine Malik

#UKAsylumPolicy

"What Starmer should say is that asylum seekers are not merely an administrative processing concern, but a human rights one. That the UK has obligations, and moreover, values and convictions, that necessitate looking fairly and humanely upon the resettlement needs of those fleeing war, persecution and the devastation of their countries.

He will not, because, well, in the U.K. it feels like heresy just to have typed the above."

Nesrine Malik

#UKAsylumPolicy

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/aug/19/riots-keir-starmer-racist-anti-immigration-narratives-truth

After the riots, Keir Starmer should tell us the truth about our country. This is why he won’t

The violence exposed racist narratives based on lies. Yet where is the counter-argument, asks Guardian columnist Nesrine Malik

The Guardian

U.K. to expand Afghan refugee resettlement scheme, allowing families to be reunited.

"Afghans did right by us, and we will do right by them, ensuring our system is fair and supports those most at-risk and vulnerable.”

Seema Malhotra,
Immigration Minister,
UK.

#UKPolitics
#UKAsylumPolicy

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/afghan-refugees-asylum-home-office-visa-taliban-b2588178.html

Evacuated Afghan refugees can reunite in UK with families, government announces

‘Afghans did right by us, and we will do right by them’, immigration minister says

The Independent

In the U.K., since Rishi Sunak became prime minister on 25 October 2022, the House of Lords has defeated the government 125 TIMES, according to a count from the Constitution Unit at University College London.

#UKPolitics
#UKAsylumPolicy
#RwandaBill