As I write this column, I am still buzzing from Mansfield Towns win on Saturday against Doncaster Rovers. I joined Ben Bradley MP and over 3,000 travelling Stags fans to watch an amazing game of football and I must tell you the fans were brilliant. They never stopped singing from start to finish and I am sure the fans played a big part in the win. I really hope we get a big team in the next round and on current form no one will want to play Mansfield Town.
In Parliament this week we are debating the highly controversial Borders Bill which will help put an end to illegal migration over the English Channel. Opponents to the Bill say that we should open safe routes from Europe, but I say no. There are no wars raging across Europe and if people are genuinely fleeing persecution from their country of origin then they should apply for asylum in the first safe country they come to. The UK is tolerant country with a proud reputation of welcoming genuine Asylum Seekers from all over the world but let’s be clear, most of the thousands of young men we see crossing the Channel are not genuine Asylum Seekers. They are economic migrants and if they want to come and live and work in the UK then they should apply through the points-based immigration system. Illegal immigration must not be tolerated, and we need to protect our borders. We all know the current Asylum system is broken and we need to fix it. The Borders Bill along with a reform of the Human Rights Act will ensure that we are a truly sovereign nation by allowing us total control on who enters our country.
The news of little Arthur Labinjo-Hughes a six-year-old saddened us all. He was subjected to a prolonged campaign of evil abuse which resulted in his death. I can not imagine how a little boy of that age must have felt knowing his parents did not love him or care for him properly. These people are pure evil and should never see the light of day again. I would lock them in a dark cell and never let them out until the day they die. I am pleased to see there will be an enquiry and people should be held to account as Arthur has been let down by the system, but we also need to admit that there are people out there who quite frankly should not be allowed anywhere near children let alone parent them. I am not a religious person, but I genuinely hope that there is a better place that little Arthur is now totally at peace. Rest in peace little man.
Five-year-old Willow Jessica Phillips from Sutton raised over £1,000 for the Little Princess Trust by having her hair cut off. Her hair will be used to make a wig for a little girl who has lost her hair through cancer. I raised Willow’s heroic efforts in Parliament last week and Jacob Rees-Mogg stated what a wonderful little girl Willow is. I agree.
