Page 35 - Londra Gazete Sayı 1120

6 LondraGazete.com/English Londra Gazete, 25 August 2022

Record 1,295 migrants cross

English Channel in a day

THE number of migrants reach-
ing Britain on small boats has hit a
new record of 1,295 in a single day.
They crossed the English Channel
in a total of 27 boats on Monday,
the Ministry of Defence said.
Numbers have continued to
rise despite the Royal Navy be-
ing handed “primacy” for the re-
sponse at sea, the announcement
Sunak calls Truss of the Rwanda deal and unfulfilled
threats to force boats back into
French waters. The Home Office
over economic plans has pursued a policy of “deter-
rents” aiming to reduce crossings,
a ‘gamble’ with Priti Patel pledging that she
would make the route “unviable”
in August 2020.
But numbers have continued
RISHI Sunak said he would not between the two candidates’ ap-
make promises he could not keep proaches. to rise, with the total of almost
22,700 arrivals this year 80 per
when it came to the cost-of-living He said that any measures to cent higher than the 12,500 seen
crisis as he stepped up his attack alleviate the cost-of-living had to by the same point in 2021. The
on Liz Truss’ plans for tax cuts, be affordable and not make in- Home Office has pursued a policy
warning they would increase bor- flation worse, because otherwise of “deterrents” aiming to reduce with the total of almost 22,700 ar- mentary committees have called
rowing and fuel inflation. it would be a “gamble with peo- rivals this year 80 per cent higher for the government to set up more
He compared his approach to ple’s savings, with their pensions, crossings, with Priti Patel pledg-
Margaret Thatcher’s, saying she with mortgage rates”. Ms Truss ing that she would make the route than the 12,500 seen by the same safe and legal routes that would
“unviable” in August 2020. But point in 2021.
provide an alternative to Channel
was prepared to say things “that used Tuesday night’s leadership
may have been difficult to hear, hustings in Birmingham to reject numbers have continued to rise, Experts, charities and parlia- crossings.
but were right for the country”. criticism of her tax-cutting plans.
The former chancellor has ac- The leadership contest runs un-
knowledged he is the underdog in til September 5 and critics have
the race to become the next prime complained it is dragging on for UK imported no fuels from Russia
minister but insisted he was still too long, leaving the country
in the contest and it was impor- without an effective government for first time on record in June
tant the public had the chance to until the new occupant of No 10
debate the “very clear difference” is in place.
BRITAIN imported no fuels after the UK moved to sever any ONS.
from Russia in June for the first reliance on Moscow for its energy Imports of all commodities fell
time on record following the im- needs in the face of Kremlin ag- compared with the monthly aver-
position of sanctions over the gression against its neighbour. age for the 12 months to Febru-
TUC: Minimum wage invasion of Ukraine, official data The import of goods also ary, prior to the invasion.
should rise to £15 shows. dropped to £33m in June, the Although exports to Russia rose
The figure published by the Of-
lowest level since records began slightly in June compared with
fice for National Statistics comes in January 1997, according to the the previous month, their levels
THE minimum wage in the UK "But millions of low-paid work- have dropped by £168m, some
should rise to £15 an hour "as ers live wage packet to wage pack- 67%, compared with the monthly
soon as possible", the Trades Un- et, struggling to get by - and they average for the 12 months to Feb-
ion Congress (TUC) says. are now being pushed to the brink ruary.
This rate should apply to work- by eye-watering bills and soaring Exports of most commodities
ers of all ages instead of the cur- prices." had fallen substantially by June,
rent lower rate for under-23s, it The government said it was "de- with machinery and transport
said. termined to make work pay" and equipment plunging by £118m or
Minimum wage is £9.50 an that this year's increase in the 91%.
hour for workers over the age of minimum wage, in April, was the Chemicals were the only com-
23 and £9.18 for 21 and 22 year largest ever rise. However it said modity exported to Russia that
olds. Inflation - the rate at which setting the minimum wage too increased over this period, driven
prices rise - is at 10.1% - so wages high or increasing it too quickly by an increase of £39.1m (61.8%)
don't go as far. could lead to higher unemploy- in exports of medicinal and phar-
The government said increasing ment. maceutical products, which are
minimum wage could push unem- The TUC argues that at a time exempt from sanctions.
ployment up. when companies are paying in- While economic sanctions im-
Prices are rising at their fastest creased dividends to sharehold- posed by the UK are likely to have
rate in 40 years, driven by higher ers, the government should en- driven the fall in imports and ex-
food, fuel and energy costs. sure workers get "their fair share" ports, the ONS point out that so-
Frances O'Grady, general sec- by increasing minimum wage called "self-sanctioning", where
retary of the TUC, said: "Every rates now, rather than waiting traders voluntarily seek alter-
worker should be able to afford a for the next expected up-rating in natives to Russian goods, is also
decent standard of living. April. likely a factor.