No one would get into a small boat to cross one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world if they had another choice. But right now, there is no way to claim asylum in the UK until you set foot here.
If the Government was serious about protecting the lives of vulnerable people, it would build a fair and effective asylum system, with multiple accessible, safe routes for people to apply for refugee protection. 
1. Resettlement schemes
Resettlement schemes, like the “Homes for Ukraine” project or the Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme, are one strand of an effective refugee protection system. For those who are selected for the schemes, they can be life-changing, providing a visa that allows refugees to travel safely into the UK. 
However, the UK has a poor record with delivering these schemes. Around 12,000 Afghan nationals are still stuck in hotel accommodation – in other words, homeless – stranded in a dysfunctional scheme that opened in August 2021. 
The Home…