Latest news with #Ships'
Scottish Sun
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
UK is turning into place we don't recognise… migrant boat disrupting Dunkirk tribute tells you all you need to know
IF you ever wanted a powerful symbol of what is wrong with Britain and its ruling class, then take a look at what happened in the Channel this week. Hoping to mark the 85th anniversary of Operation Dynamo — the evacuation of our brave troops from Dunkirk in World War Two — a flotilla of more than 60 'Little Ships' set off from Ramsgate, Kent. 6 A migrant boat is pictured near the flotilla marking the evacuation of Dunkirk Credit: SWNS 6 The boats' 45-mile trip to France was disrupted by Border Force demanding they make way for the dinghy Credit: PA 6 British troops arriving at Dover in 1940 after escape from Dunkirk, which the naval display commemorated Credit: Getty - Contributor But their 45-mile trip to France was disrupted when Border Force and the French navy demanded the boats make way for a dinghy bringing illegal immigrants to our shores, perhaps including terrorists among them. What on earth would our ancestors have made of this, I wonder? An attempt to mark our shared identity, history and collective sacrifice being disrupted by people from distant nations who are breaking our laws? While nobody in Westminster has yet said anything about this incident, I think it perfectly symbolises a major dividing line in our country. read more on uk news NO KIDDING Fury as Angela Rayner demands half a million parents are STRIPPED of benefits A line between those who cling to the things that once defined a country they both recognise and love, and those who are seeking to radically transform this country into something that most British and English people no longer recognise at all. If you think I'm taking things a bit far, then I'd urge you to consider two points. First, the reality of what is now unfolding in the English Channel. Since 2018, close to 165,000 illegal migrants have now crossed into Britain on more than 4,500 boats — equivalent to filling an entire town almost the size of Luton. And, astonishingly, one data analyst this week predicted that nearly 46,000 illegal migrants will cross this year, smashing all records to date. But what we also learned this week, thanks to new figures released by the Office for National Statistics, is that our country and its population are being transformed much more rapidly and profoundly by legal immigration. 'Drop' in migrant numbers is nothing to celebrate... there are still 1,180 people arriving in the UK every DAY While Keir Starmer and Labour will try to distract you in the days ahead by pointing to the fact the overall rate of net migration into Britain last year fell sharply, to 431,000, meaning nearly half a million more people arrived than left, just look at the bigger picture. For a start, who voted for adding a city the size of Bristol to our country every year? Seriously, who voted for a level of net migration that is still huge by historical standards — 80 per cent higher than the yearly average during the 2010s and seven times higher than the level of the 1990s, before Tony Blair and New Labour forced us into this mass immigration experiment. When millions of people voted for Brexit, which many saw as an attempt to lower immigration, did they think that nearly a decade on from that vote the net migration figure in this country would be 100,000 higher than it was at the time of the referendum? As a result of these mind-boggling trends, today, one in every 25 people in this country arrived in the last four years, according to the Spectator magazine. Let me say that again. One in every 25 people arrived in the last four years. While Keir Starmer was recently criticised by the Left for suggesting we are 'at risk' of becoming an 'island of strangers', I think he was too soft. We are already an island of strangers. How is it possible, you might ask, to maintain and unify a population that is undergoing this scale of rapid demographic change and in which millions of people only arrived in the last few years and so have no roots in our long identity, history and culture? 6 A French navy warship also demanded the British boats make way for migrants Credit: SWNS 6 Migrants disembark lifeboat in Kent after their disruption on Channel Credit: PA Furthermore, while the Labour Party wax lyrical about 'regaining control', can I ask them another simple question? If net migration was close to half a million people last year while at the same time our leaders built only 218,000 homes in England, then how on earth will we ever solve our housing crisis, bringing down the soaring cost of homes and rent for hardworking Brits? Between 2013 and 2024, according to the policy wonks at the Centre for Policy Studies, the 'housing deficit' in this country, meaning the number of homes we need, surged by 1.7million and immigration accounted for close to 1.6million, or 94 per cent, of this total. The message is crystal clear, even if nobody in Westminster will be honest with you about it. You can have available and affordable housing for the hardworking, tax-paying British people, or you can have mass uncontrolled immigration. You cannot have both. And look, too, at how these insane numbers are transforming our economy. In the aftermath of the vote for Brexit, countless politicians told you that we would switch to a policy of lower but 'high skill' immigration — that we would attract the best of the best. 'ISLAND OF STRANGERS' But now look into the detail of those numbers, released this week. Here's just one bonkers statistic. Of the nearly 3.6million migrants from outside Europe who arrived in Britain, since 2021, just 16 per cent of them came on work visas. Think about that. Once you exclude students, relatives and asylum seekers, only around one in eight of the millions of people who have flooded into our country came primarily to work. I'm not an economist but I would bet my house that this is one very big reason why our economy is now in the toilet, with low rates of growth and dismal levels of productivity. We should be attracting people who want to work, not providing a safety net for people who are taking more out of our economy than they are putting in. And, lastly, look at how all this is transforming our culture and identity, leaving the country unrecognisable to millions of ordinary Brits. Another stat we learned this week is that 81 per cent of all immigration onto these islands is now coming from outside Europe — typically India, Pakistan, Nigeria and China, which have radically different cultures, identities and histories. Given all this, then, is it really any surprise that according to one pollster this week, close to half of all British people, including the vast majority who plan to vote for Nigel Farage and Reform, openly agree with the line: 'I sometimes feel like a stranger in my own country.' I know I do. And you know what? I suspect that were those brave soldiers in Dunkirk, our ancestors, returning to the Britain and England of today, they would too. 6 The migrants walk off Border Force vessel and on to British soil for first time Credit: PA Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Katie and Shaun Cassidy Pay Tribute to the Late David Cassidy on What Would Have Been His 75th Birthday
April 12 would have been David Cassidy's 75th birthday — a time to look back on the life and legacy of one of the biggest teen stars of the 1970s. Cassidy became a household name through his role as Keith Partridge on The Partridge Family, a musical sitcom that debuted in 1970. With his boyish charm, shaggy hair and standout singing voice, the 20-year-old quickly became the face of a generation. Though the show was fictional, its music was real and Cassidy's voice helped launch hit songs like 'I Think I Love You' to the top of the charts. Born in New York City in 1950, Cassidy grew up surrounded by show business. His father, Jack Cassidy, was a well-known actor, and his stepmother, Shirley Jones, co-starred with him on The Partridge Family. This year, Cassidy's family took to social media to honor his birthday, sharing heartfelt tributes and memories that celebrate his life, talent and the impact he had on so many. Shaun Cassidy, who shared a father with David, posted a black-and-white photo on Instagram to recall the time they spent together as young children. 'When David came to visit us on the weekends, my mother always made it a priority to celebrate him. She knew how difficult it was for a kid to be shuttled back and forth between two households, and she never wanted David to feel like he was a guest or a 'half-brother' in our home,' Shaun wrote. 'There were no better nights than when David came to sleep over, and no better mornings than those spent walking around Westwood, dining at 'Ships' coffee shop, and then riding the ponies at Beverly Park. Before my younger brothers were born, these were the happiest days of my childhood because I got to share them with my big brother, Dave. God, I miss him. Happy Birthday pal.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. While fame came quickly, it wasn't always easy. Cassidy faced personal battles — most notably with alcoholism. In 2017, he was hospitalized with organ failure and died that Nov. 21, at the age of 67. The official cause of death was liver failure, a result of years of alcohol-related health issues. Cassidy was married three times: first to actress Kay Lenz in 1977 and then to horse breeder Meryl Tanz in 1984. His last marriage was to songwriter Sue Shifrin in 1991. The pair share one son together, Beau Devin. David's daughter, Katie, from his relationship with model Sherry Williams, also took to Instagram to share a photo of herself with her father, wishing him a Happy Birthday. 'I love you & I miss you so much. Not a day goes by I don't think of you,' she wrote. 'I promise to always make you proud. You'll forever live within me & Beau… ❤️' Read the original article on People
