[theo_luddite]

We can, and by international law, are obliged to provide safe routes, but ever since the Tories came up with a fictitious immigration number they dreamt up when Cameron was in charge, they've removed the safe routes and declared them illegal. Providing legal routes again would burst the bubble of those organising the small boats on the French Coast. They know it but won't do it because it appeals to the Tory press who feed the raw meat to their little Englander readership, stoking up hate and division.

Divide and rule - working successfully as a means of keeping the population under your control since the Roman's turned up (and likely long before).

When that failed - build a wall.