230 People. One Dinghy. And Britain Still Can’t Stop the Boats.
This week with Mike Graham, we discussed the record 230 people crammed into a single Channel dinghy, why public-sector productivity is still below pre-pandemic levels.
This week, I joined Mike Graham on The Mike Graham Show to discuss some of the biggest stories behind the headlines — and what the numbers tell us about the state of Britain.
From 230 people arriving in a single Channel dinghy to drought, struggling public services and falling productivity, one question kept coming back:
Are we actually getting enough in return for all the money being spent?
Watch the Full Discussion
Watch my latest Stat of the Nation conversation with Mike Graham below:
230 People. One Dinghy.
The standout number this week was 230.
That is how many people crossed the Channel in a single dinghy — more people than many passenger aircraft carry.
As I said to Mike, boarding a plane takes time even with gates, staff, allocated seats and an organised process.
So how do 230 people gather on a beach, board one vessel and launch towards Britain without being stopped?
That is one of the questions we get into in the full discussion.
More Money. Less Output?
We also discussed the latest public-sector productivity figures.
Productivity remains below where it was before the pandemic, with healthcare performing even worse.
Yet whenever public services struggle, the answer from politicians is usually the same:
Spend more money.
Before taxpayers are asked for even more, shouldn’t we first ask what we are getting from the resources already going in?
That takes us into GP access, online triage and the wider question of whether higher spending is actually delivering better services.
Drought, Water and What We Get for Our Money
Britain is once again talking about drought, despite exceptionally wet weather only months ago.
If hotter and drier summers are going to become more common, where are the reservoirs, water storage and serious plans for adaptation?
And it feeds into the wider theme of this week’s conversation.
Taxes rise.
Council tax rises.
Water bills rise.
Yet many people increasingly feel they are getting less in return.
The debate shouldn’t just be about how much government spends. It should be about what taxpayers actually get for it.
🎥 Watch the full discussion with Mike Graham above — we cover all of this and plenty more.
What do you think? Are Britain’s biggest problems really a lack of money — or are we simply failing to get enough from what we already spend?
Stats Jamie | Stats, Facts & Opinions
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I asked ChatGPT something the other day.
It replied:
Average daily illegal boat migrants entering the country since 2018 - 66.
Average since Burnham took power 23 days ago - 113
But as already reported - the Home Office has issued tenders relating to such arrivals up to 2039 - so there is no intention - maybe journalists and commentators should focus more on that.