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1. Hundredsof people are fearedtohave drownedafteraboat carryingup to 700 migrantscapsizedin
the MediterraneanSea.The vessel,thoughttobe just70ft long,capsizedatmidnightlocal time in
Libyanwaterssouthof the Italianislandof Lampedusa.
So far only28 people have beenrescuedand24 bodiesretrieved.Italy'sPrime ministersaiditwasa
Europeantragedyandcalledforan extraordinaryEU summitonthe migrantsissue.MatteoRenzi
saidhe could notverifythe numberof deaths,butthatit wouldbe a "dramaticamount".
1,600 people have diedattemptingcrossingthisyearsofarand 3,500 diedattemptingtocrosslast
year. So howhave major politiciansapproachedthisissue:
Labour leaderEdMilibandsaysonTwitter:"Those dyinginthe Mediterraneanare some of the
poorestmen,womenandchildreninthe world.We mustact to stopthese awful scenes."
DeputyPrime MinisterNickCleggsaysthe EU should"reviewentirelythe arrangementsthatare in
place because we justcannot,on moral grounds,have suchlarge numbersof people dyinginsuch
regularintervalsinthe Mediterranean."
Meanwhile,UKIPleaderNigelFarage saysthe decisionbyBritainandFrance to bombLibyahad
destabilisedthe country,leadingtothe refugee crisis.He adds:"I'mthe one personwhohas said
that I do think,especiallyforChristiansinthatpartof the world,theynow have almostnowhere to
go."
I askedthe publicontheiropiniononhow theyshouldtackle the problem.Withcompassionby
sendingmore andmore rescue boatsout,riskingmore migrantsattemptingtocrossillegally.Ortry
to deterpeople fromdoingitbyrestrictingrescue operationsandincreasingpunishment.
Is the disasteraffectingwhichwayyouare goingtovote withhow theyhave approachedthe
problem?