This won't get much notice amid the Election hullabaloo but MPs on Foreign Affairs Committee stuck the boot into what they call the government's "flawed" master plan to stop illegal migration & say it only leads to more people smuggling and misery: bbc.co.uk/news/uk-502834…
Four significant points raised by MPs. 1) Strategy to combat smuggling relies on international co-operation, but UK Govt has seemingly stopped attending the EU meetings where continent-wide plans to target irregular/illegal migration are discussed.
2) Nobody knows - not even ministers and their top officials - if the UK will still be part of the European Migrant Smuggling Centre after Brexit. This is dedicated to gathering intelligence to catch the gangs.
3) Closing borders doesn't seem to work. UK helped strengthen Libya's militias (to stop Med Sea crossings). Result: human rights abuses and more would-be migrants putting their lives in the hands of smugglers. Consequence: greater chaos and stronger organised crime networks.
4) The cross-party group of MPs chaired by Tory MP @TomTugendhat urge more effort on stabilising chaotic regimes, combating corruption in poor countries. Evidence suggests the urge to flee to Europe would begin to lessen as conditions improve in a would-be migrant's country.
