So the argument is « let’s make the system more expensive than it can be and fund that additional cost by making ETA/visas more expensive than they can be without benefiting out public finances (since the goal is purely to fund an unnecessary expense?). And of course increasing the cost of ETA/visa has an impact on the country’s attractiveness to foreign visitors so if we sacrifice tourism income on the way it doesn’t matter?

oh, and the argument is also that uk citizens don’t get automated border control into the us and some Schengen ports because the fcdo doesn’t care about the situation of uk citizens visiting abroad, but imposing unnecessary queues and inconvenience to EU or US visitors will miraculously lead EU member states and the us government to find ways to give Uk citizens automated border clearance e in the us and whole of Schengen ports because they will be so empathic with the situation of their citizens visiting the uk?

Dont take me wrong, I too am frustrated several Schengen entries are still unable to deliver effective automated border processes and that the US refuses to do so except through limited and extortionate global entry,. However, the whole notion that it can be a good idea to make a system deliberately more inefficient and more costly than it is and can be just for the sake of making it needlessly punishing to anyone simply doesn’t resonate with me.