Tony Blair aides wanted asylum holding camp on Scottish island

Published

1 year ago

December 29, 2023

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Tony Blair’s government considered setting up a holding camp on the Isle of Mull to drive down the number of asylum seekers entering the UK, according to newly released official papers.

The plan, put forward by one of the then-Labour prime minister’s closest aides, was part of a “nuclear option” that would see people who arrived in the UK by unauthorised means detained on the Scottish island before being removed.

Drawn up just months before the US-UK invasion of Iraq, the scheme also called for the creation of regional “safe havens” in countries such as Turkey and South Africa, where refugees who could not be returned to their own country could be sent.

Although the plan was not taken up, it echoes the debate still taking place more than 20 years later around Rishi Sunak’s plans to deport people to Rwanda, with officials in Blair’s government also discussing denouncing the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to get the scheme going.

The proposals, contained in files released by the National Archives in Kew, west London, reflect Mr Blair’s frustration that “ever-tougher controls” in northern France had not had an impact on the number of asylum claims – which reached a new monthly high of 8,800 in October 2002.

“We must search out even more radical measures,” Mr Blair scrawled in a handwritten note.

Following a brainstorming session with senior officials and advisers, the prime minister’s chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, produced a paper entitled Asylum: The Nuclear Option, in which he questioned whether the UK needed an asylum system at all.

Mr Powell said because the UK was an island, people who had arrived by sea had already passed through a safe country “so in fact what we should be looking at is a very simple system that immediately returns people who arrive here illegally”.

He said that officials in the office of the attorney general, Lord Goldsmith, had suggested setting up a camp on the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides where people could be detained until they could be removed.

Mr Powell said the government would have to legislate to allow for the removal of people despite the risk of persecution.

“We would like to extend this to return any illegal immigrant regardless of the risk that they might suffer human or degrading treatment,” he advised.

He conceded the plan would be challenged by the ECHR in Strasbourg but said this would take two to three years and in the meantime “we could send a strong message into the system about our new tough stance”.

He said if the government lost in Strasbourg “we would denounce the ECHR and immediately re-ratify with a reservation on Article 3 (the right not to be tortured)”.

Home Office lawyers warned that the measures would fall foul of the Geneva Convention on refugees.

An exasperated Mr Blair scrawled “just return them”, adding: “This is precisely the point. We must not allow the ECHR to stop us dealing with it.”

The discussion draws parallels with Mr Sunak’s flagship Rwanda plan.

The deportation scheme has cost £290m despite no flights taking off due to a series of legal challenges. Mr Sunak has put forward legislation to address this but it has caused a war among his own MPs, with Tories on the right wanting it to go further and those on the moderate wing keen to stick to the UK’s international obligations.

Blair supported return of Elgin Marbles to Greece

Echoing another debate that is still ongoing, other cabinet papers released today reveal Mr Blair was keen to return the Elgin Marbles to Greece in an attempt to boost support for London’s bid to host the Olympic Games in 2012.

Number 10 advisers believed the Marbles – also known as the Parthenon Sculptures – could be a “powerful bargaining chip” but warned any attempt to reach a sharing agreement with Athens could face stiff resistance due to the “blinkered intransigence” of the British Museum, where they have been housed since the 19th century.

Greece has long demanded the return of the marbles but the debate spiralled into a diplomatic row last month after Mr Sunak ditched a planned meeting with his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who he accused of grandstanding over the issue.

The ancient sculptures were removed by Lord Elgin from occupied Athens in the early 19th century and are now owned by the British Museum – with Downing Street said to be opposed to any sort of loan agreement that would allow their return.

Number 10 ‘lost credibility under Alistair Campbell’

Also in the cabinet office files were revelations about the perception of Mr Blair’s combative communications chief Alastair Campbell, who spent nine years as the former PM’s closet aide.

After Mr Campbell resigned in 2003, Mr Blair was warned by remaining advisers that the Number 10 press office had lost “all credibility.. as a truthful operation” under his reign and that the prime minister’s own authority was being undermined because Downing Street was seen as a “politically-dominated spin machine”.

The warnings followed a series of bruising rows between the Labour government and the BBC over its coverage of the US-UK invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Politics

The crypto industry has turned into a global memecoin casino

Published

5 hours ago

March 19, 2025

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The crypto industry has turned into a global memecoin casino

Opinion by: Georgii Verbitskii, founder of TYMIO

Memecoins have dominated the crypto narrative over the past year, leading to a series of high-profile events where most traders lost money while insiders profited. The Libra token alone, by some estimations, resulted in $4.4 billion in public losses. Unlike previous crypto cycles where broad market growth rewarded holders, today’s memecoin speculation has created an environment where the average trader’s chances of success are slim. How did memecoins happen to drive the market to a dead end, and will this ever end?

Speculation or investment?

Investing and speculation are fundamentally different games with distinct rules. Investing isn’t about making quick money. It is about purchasing the right assets to protect capital in the long haul. Usually, investors don’t wait for the right “entry point” but purchase assets to be held for years. Such assets grow relative to fiat currencies based on fundamental factors. For example, stocks, gold and Bitcoin (BTC) rise against the US dollar, which faces unlimited issuance and inflation.

Some assets have extra growth drivers — rising property demand, growing company profits or even Bitcoin adoption by governments — but these are bonuses. The key point is that your investment is not supposed to lose all its value against the fiat. Investors follow long-term macroeconomic trends, which helps them preserve purchasing power.

On the other hand, speculation is a zero-sum game where the skilled minority profits because of the uninformed majority. Typically, such people are chasing quick profits. This is what happens with memecoins. Unlike traditional investments, they lack intrinsic value, dividends or interest returns. While in the case of Bitcoin, the “greater fools” who buy after a trader could be companies adopting the Bitcoin standard, followed by entire nations establishing strategic Bitcoin reserves after the US, in the case of a token like LIBRA, the greater fool is the one who bought it after Javier Milei’s announcement on X. That’s it — there are no more buyers.

Unregulated gambling

Memecoins operate similarly to online casinos. They provide entertainment and promise quick profits but favor only those who create and promote them. Unlike regulated gambling, where risks are well-known, memecoins are often hyped by influential figures — starting from the famous crypto influencer Murad and ending with the US president — and, consequently, social media narratives. The harsh reality is that, like in a casino, the odds overwhelmingly favor insiders and early adopters while the majority suffer losses.

Recent: Solana’s token minting frenzy loses steam as memecoins get torched

The memecoin craze clearly thrives on speculation and psychological triggers — this is the game that evolves emotions and leaves players’ wallets empty. Platforms like Pump.fun, which facilitate memecoin launches, have reaped massive profits, proving that selling shovels is the best way to profit from a gold rush. How can opening a casino require a license and choosing a location in strictly designated areas, while anyone can launch their own memecoin?

Well, the situation is likely to change soon.

Will this ever end?

The lack of regulatory oversight has enabled the explosive growth of memecoins. How did we get here? Let’s remember the SEC’s activities in recent years, namely lawsuits against major decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and large crypto companies that tried to play fair. Another serious step was Operation Chokepoint 2.0, directed by the previous US administration against the crypto industry as a whole. All this not only stifled well-intentioned companies that created something meaningful in crypto but also indirectly triggered a counterweight in the form of other players who took advantage of unclear rules.

As a result, crypto exchanges have recently been listing mostly memecoins almost immediately after their release. Chaos in the field of regulation has turned the crypto industry into a sizable global casino. While earlier, everyone hoped to win in this gamble, now, along with the losses, it seems that general disappointment is setting in.

There is a ray of hope. The current US administration can unequivocally be called “crypto-friendly,” which means we will likely see significant regulation progress this year. This is especially crucial for the DeFi sector, which has long found its product-market fit and is rapidly developing, capturing the markets of traditional finance (banks, brokers and other intermediaries).

It is essential to rewrite outdated financial regulations as quickly as possible. The old rules were designed for a system based on trust in centralized intermediaries, whereas the new framework must incorporate smart contracts — in other words, executable blockchain code.

Stronger regulatory frameworks could introduce stricter requirements for token launches, including mandatory disclosures of creators’ personalities and restrictions on centralized exchange listings.

Yet market participants may learn through costly mistakes even without direct intervention and become more cautious about memecoin investments. After a series of harsh but sobering memecoin rug pulls, the Web3 community should finally realize that such projects rarely reward risk-takers. If someone still decides to take a chance, they should treat it like a trip to the casino: only bringing the amount they are prepared to lose and making the most of the joy from this experience.

For those to whom this approach doesn’t appeal or those truly serious about growing their net worth to pass it on to future generations, welcome to the real world of bland, regular Bitcoin purchases. It seems the market is only now starting to realize this.

Opinion by: Georgii Verbitskii, founder of TYMIO.

This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

Politics

Ex-minister Tulip Siddiq attacks ‘targeted and baseless campaign’ against her by Bangladesh authorities

Published

5 hours ago

March 19, 2025

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Ex-minister Tulip Siddiq attacks 'targeted and baseless campaign' against her by Bangladesh authorities

Sir Keir Starmer’s former anti-corruption minister has accused the Bangladeshi authorities of a “targeted and baseless campaign” against her.

It is Tulip Siddiq‘s first significant response to a series of corruption allegations in Bangladesh, which saw her resign from the government in January.

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She quit after the prime minister’s standards adviser found her family’s links with the ousted Bangladeshi regime exposed the government to “reputational risks.”

A letter from Ms Siddiq’s lawyers to Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) said: “At no point have any allegations against Ms Siddiq been put to her fairly, properly and transparently, or indeed at all, by the ACC, or anyone else with proper authority on behalf of the Bangladesh government.”

Her lawyers said the media has been “repeatedly used” to publish allegations “that have no truth”, setting out several examples that have led to an “ongoing targeted and baseless campaign”.

Ms Siddiq denies all wrongdoing, and says she has not been approached by the investigating authorities in Bangladesh.

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‘Allegations have no merit’

Sky News previously reported that UK-based investigators were considering ways to help the Bangladeshi authorities.

The agency concerned, the International Anti-Corruption Co-ordination Centre (IACCC), is currently hosted by the National Crime Agency (NCA) and principally funded by the UK government.

In the seven-page letter sent by Ms Siddiq’s legal team, seen by Sky News, it is claimed the ACC “does not appear to be taking matters seriously”.

It goes on: “If it was, it would have been obvious to it that the allegations made against our client have no merit at all.”

What are some of the claims?

Ms Siddiq is the niece of the ousted Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Hasina, and it’s those familial links that were used as evidence in the claims against her.

Among the allegations disputed by Ms Siddiq are claims she illegally benefitted from a deal between Bangladesh and Russia for a nuclear power station.

Ms Siddiq’s lawyers say this is “absurd and cannot be true”, as the claims revolve around a property given to the Labour MP by a close family friend 10 years before the power station deal.

The letter also rejects claims Ms Siddiq committed fraud in Bangladesh over where she owned a home.

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Ms Siddiq’s team has told the ACC it must “immediately stop manufacturing false and vexatious allegations”, adding the agency’s methods “are an unacceptable attempt to interfere in UK politics”.

The letter goes on to request any further claims are put to them directly, instead of being publicised in the media.

In response, a defiant ACC said Ms Siddiq “has benefitted from the systemic corruption” of her aunt’s old party.

It said the MP has “spent most of her adult life residing in homes owned by cronies” of the party, the Awami League, and been “benefitted by corrupt property deals that her mother undertook”.

It said it would be in touch with her office “in due course”.

Politics

Starmer backs campaign to show Adolescence in schools

Published

5 hours ago

March 19, 2025

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Starmer backs campaign to show Adolescence in schools

Sir Keir Starmer has revealed he is watching Netflix’s Adolescence with his family and supports a campaign for it to be shown in parliament and schools.

The drama, starring Stephen Graham, depicts the aftermath of the stabbing of a teenage girl – as a 13-year-old boy from her school is arrested for her murder.

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Graham and co-writer Jack Thorne have said they want it to be a show that “causes discussion and makes change”, after it was hailed by critics and topped Netflix’s charts around the world.

Asked by Labour MP Anneliese Midgley if he backs the creators’ calls for it to be aired in parliament and schools, Sir Keir said he does.

He told PMQs: “At home we are watching Adolescence. I’ve got a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl, and it’s a very good drama to watch.

“This violence carried out by young men, influenced by what they see online, is a real problem.

“It’s abhorrent, and we have to tackle it.”

MPs want tougher action on online safety

Sir Keir’s commitment came as Sky News learned around 25 Labour MPs who want tougher action on online safety have formed an informal group and are due to meet next week.

It could pressure the government to take more radical steps, after a private member’s bill to raise the age of social media consent from 13 to 16 was watered down because ministers didn’t support the measure.

The changes were criticised by Thorne in a recent interview with Sky News, accusing the government of being “frightened of big tech”.

Johnathan Brash is among the MPs who backs showing Adolescence in parliament and schools, telling Sky News he found it “so powerful and distressing I immediately went upstairs and gave my son a hug”.

The Labour MP for Hartlepool, whose son is eight, said elements of the show could be shown in primary school “with discretion” so children understand the dangers before they are using social media.

He said he will raise the issue with officials at the Department for Education to ensure Sir Keir’s “extremely supportive” words are followed through on.

Mr Brash said the government must “protect children from an environment that is increasing hostile and dangerous”.

It comes after Sky News revealed teenagers are regularly being served up “horrific” content on social media apps, including violent and sexually explicit material.

Government ‘alert’ to ‘toxic influencers’

Speaking after PMQs, Sir Keir’s spokesman called Adolescence “an incredibly powerful programme that shows the threat of young men carrying out violence from seeing things online”.

“Insidious misogyny taking root will be tackled,” he added, though he did not say how.

He also said the government is “alert to and taking on” issues raised by Sir Gareth Southgate, after the ex-England manager hit out at “manipulative and toxic influencers” who trick young men into thinking women are against them.

The Online Safety Act, which is being implemented this year, is intended to protect young people from illegal and harmful content with fines for platforms who break the rules coming in this summer.

However, MPs from across the political spectrum want further action to tackle the amount of time children spend on their smartphones.

The Tories want the government to force teachers to ban smartphones from schools, with shadow education secretary Laura Trott revealing she is so concerned she won’t allow her children to have one until they are 16.

The government has resisted the measure, saying teachers already have the power to ban phones.