Journalist Peter Hitchens clashed with writer and environmental activist George Monbiot on a recent episode of the BBC Question Time. The heated debate revolved around the UK‘s immigration policy and its impact on the upcoming general election. While Monbiot argued that the UK faces a crisis of governance rather than illegal immigration, Hitchens countered that asylum seekers arriving in England on small boats are coming from France, which is considered a safe country.
Hitchens highlighted that approximately 20,000 individuals arrive in the UK annually using small boats, and emphasized the country’s wealth. However, the show’s host, Fiona Bruce, corrected the numbers, stating that so far this year, closer to 40,000 people arrived in Britain through this method. Monbiot maintained that the issue at hand was not a migration crisis but a crisis of governance.
During the debate, Veterans minister Johnny Mercer criticized Monbiot for what he believed was misleading information, stating, ‘The facts don’t matter… You’re misleading people.’ Hitchens pressed Monbiot about the origin of these asylum seekers, to which he replied that they were fleeing from various countries worldwide and then embarked on boats in France.
As the two panelists began shouting over each other, Fiona Bruce intervened, urging them to speak one at a time. She emphasized the importance of being heard and maintaining order during the discussion. Hitchens argued that France is a safe country and that once asylum seekers reach there, they are no longer refugees. He expressed his view that it is reasonable for one civilized country to refuse illegal entry from another civilized country, emphasizing the importance of legal channels for immigration.
Monbiot rejected Hitchens’ perspective and pointed out that he did not understand international law. The intense debate on the BBC Question Time brought attention to the ongoing discussion surrounding UK immigration policy.
