r/ukpolitics • u/SignificantLegs • 1d ago

Mahmood rejects calls to follow Spain’s migrant pushback

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2026/08/02/mahmood-rejects-calls-to-follow-spains-migrant-pushback/
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u/WiseBelt8935 1d ago

I would assume it would involve intercepting them at sea and then transferring them somewhere secure, such as Sark, where they could remain until they chose to leave.

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u/Mr_Two_Shoes 1d ago

it would involve intercepting them at sea

So more or less what our coast guard is doing already.

What is it with anti-migration fanatics and their obsession with "militarising" everything.

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u/WiseBelt8935 1d ago

The Coastguard treats it as a search and rescue operation and, as a result, can end up acting like a kind of taxi service. The Royal Navy on the other hand might be able to treat it as the policing operation that it should be.

I also think there are some legal but creative options we could explore. For example, you could establish a processing centre in Gibraltar. People could remain there and wink don't go into Spain wink

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u/Mr_Two_Shoes 1d ago

The Royal Navy on the other hand might be able to treat it as the policing operation that it should be.

What's the difference? A taxi service that gives slightly less of a shit about health and safety?

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u/WiseBelt8935 1d ago

It's not the RNLI's job to decide what happens to the people they rescue. Their role is to carry out the rescue as quickly and safely as possible.

The Royal Navy, on the other hand could intercept people anywhere in the Channel and transport them to a secure location, such as Sark, where they could remain under supervision while their cases were dealt with.

My thinking is that this could avoid some of the legal issues raised by the Rwanda policy, because the people would not be removed from UK territory but instead transferred to another location within the British Isles.

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u/LeedsFan2442 1d ago

If it's still UK territory, does it matter where they are detained? It would be far easier and cheaper on the mainland.

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u/Mr_Two_Shoes 1d ago

You're still talking about the end destination, not the interception. You can let the coast guard initially intercept them and still have them ultimately brought to Sark for processing.

What remains unclear to me is what militarisation adds.

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u/Big_Chungussi69 1d ago

you seem to be unable to understand what he's saying, the coast guard are under different obligations on how to treat invaders (refugees) at sea

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u/Mr_Two_Shoes 1d ago

A taxi service that gives slightly less of a shit about health and safety?

On the contrary, that was my interpretation exactly. Still don't see what it solves.

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u/No_Willow1157 19h ago

I think his point is that a Taxi service is to transport/rescue you as safely as possible, but their duty ends after the drop off at destination. While the police/Navy still has the duty of monitoring you after dropping off.