Very curmudgeonly about the behaviour of the Border Force early on Saturday morning when our overnight ferry from Dublin docked at Holyhead.Ā As usual we turned out of the bus, collected our luggage, staggered through to have our passports checked and back onto the bus.Ā Then 2 mins later the bus was directed into a (new) hanger, where 5 unsmiling Border Force personnel came on board and demanded to see our passports again.Ā They picked on an African lady, and quite aggressively asked her whether she was coming to Britain on holiday, then took away her passport off the bus to examine it.Ā It was returned to her (with a grin) and we went on our way... but what message is this sending out to anyone without a British passport?Ā "We're not in the EU any more, so if you're not British you're not welcome"?Ā Ā
There's no facility for scanning passports at Holyhead, so what was the point of the heavy-handed treatment?Ā If more checks are required, they must get the equipment to carry out those checks, not throw their weight around by demanding to see our passports twice, and randomly singling out someone "different".Ā As OH said, this is the sort of treatment he expected when going to Russia in the 90's, not Britain in 2020.Ā Ā
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
We used to get that in the 80s when we organised company days out to Calais by coach and ferry, before the Single Market.Ā Three trips in all over the years and every time they picked on the West Indians in this case.Ā Very embarrassing for the rest of us and none too pleasant for them.Ā Ā
Very curmudgeonly about the behaviour of the Border Force early on Saturday morning when our overnight ferry from Dublin docked at Holyhead.Ā As usual we turned out of the bus, collected our luggage, staggered through to have our passports checked and back onto the bus.Ā Then 2 mins later the bus was directed into a (new) hanger, where 5 unsmiling Border Force personnel came on board and demanded to see our passports again.Ā They picked on an African lady, and quite aggressively asked her whether she was coming to Britain on holiday, then took away her passport off the bus to examine it.Ā It was returned to her (with a grin) and we went on our way... but what message is this sending out to anyone without a British passport?Ā "We're not in the EU any more, so if you're not British you're not welcome"?Ā Ā
There's no facility for scanning passports at Holyhead, so what was the point of the heavy-handed treatment?Ā If more checks are required, they must get the equipment to carry out those checks, not throw their weight around by demanding to see our passports twice, and randomly singling out someone "different".Ā As OH said, this is the sort of treatment he expected when going to Russia in the 90's, not Britain in 2020.Ā Ā
I fully expect there to be a lot more of this, unfortunately. I've said it before , and I'll say it again. Tolerance peaked in this country 10-15 years ago and is one the way down sharply.
...and yet the Brits travelling abroad will expect tolerance and respect wherever they go because they have a blue passport with the UK coat of arms on it...Ā
...and yet the Brits travelling abroad will expect tolerance and respect wherever they go because they have a blue passport with the UK coat of arms on it...Ā
They'll probably expect to be ushered to the front of the queues too.Ā
Is that SteveTu all Brits, are just some that you don't like?Ā Perhaps it's those you would define as ignorant and unenlightened that you have in your sights? I think that, overall, we are a tolerant nation.Ā A minority let us down - but that doesn't change the nature of the population as a whole.
I don't like discrimination in all its guises - be it positive or negative. I saw a marked change over the past few years - not only in Britain, but worldwide - where 'nationalism' has become more prevalent. I also dislike the hypocrasy if nationalism whereby the nationalist want to keep immigrants out, but themselves want to travel the world and work and stay where they want.Ā We're all immigrants - at some point in everyone's history, our ancestors moved around in migrations. Trump is what - he's a foreigner in country that previously 'belonged' to the indigenous Indians (and before them to who knows)? Farage is what - pure back-to-Adam-and-Eve British? Boris? What is British if not an amalgamation of all sorts?
I know it has toĀ be done. Wrong trees planted well over a hundred years ago in the wrong placeĀ Down the road there'sĀ what should be road lined with magnificent london planesĀ butĀ every few years they're pruned into bog brushes . They're doing it now. So sad.
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There's no facility for scanning passports at Holyhead, so what was the point of the heavy-handed treatment?Ā If more checks are required, they must get the equipment to carry out those checks, not throw their weight around by demanding to see our passports twice, and randomly singling out someone "different".Ā As OH said, this is the sort of treatment he expected when going to Russia in the 90's, not Britain in 2020.Ā
I've said it before , and I'll say it again. Tolerance peaked in this country 10-15 years ago and is one the way down sharply.
I think that, overall, we are a tolerant nation.Ā A minority let us down - but that doesn't change the nature of the population as a whole.
Down the road there'sĀ what should be road lined with magnificent london planesĀ butĀ every few years they're pruned into bog brushes . They're doing it now. So sad.