Tory MPS demand we ‘take back control’ of our borders
MORE than 30 MPS have written to Boris Johnson demanding an “unflinching plan of action” to stop people illegally entering the UK by crossing the Channel.
More than 10,000 people have made the sea journey this year, with nearly 600 on a single day last week, a new daily record.
On Thursday, the day an Eritrean man lost his life trying to reach the UK, at least 592 people succeeded in making the crossing.
The Prime Minister and Home Secretary Priti Patel are under mounting pressure to stop illegal entry to the UK via the Channel, with 31 Tory MPS writing to Mr Johnson to push him to bring forward a “decisive” plan.
Warning of pressure in their constituencies, they say voters are “mystified” about why “more isn’t being done”.
The letter, by the Common Sense group of Conservative MPS, states “law-abiding Britons are increasingly
frustrated at ever-worsening incidents of Channel crossings and perplexed by the apparent lack of an urgent Government response”.
The MPS are concerned that “Britain’s belief in the entire asylum system is waning” and are calling for a new “system of accommodation and deportation” to “deal with the many thousands of foreigners now illegally resident in
our islands, the number of which will inexorably rise without comprehensive action at land and sea”.
The MPS welcome tougher measures included in the Government’s Nationality and Borders Bill but call for the acceleration of plans for the “offshore processing of asylum claims and dedicated, purpose-specific reception centres”.
As well as a faster deportation
process, they want the Human Rights Act reformed so it is not used to “game” the asylum system.
Reminding the PM that the Government was elected to “take back control”, they claim Australia and Greece have demonstrated that “removing the allure of mainland accommodation deters illegal travellers from setting sail”. Signatories include former security minister
Sir John Hayes, former Welsh Secretary David Jones, Sir David Amess, Sir Desmond Swayne and Dover MP Natalie Elphicke.
Minister for immigration compliance and justice Chris Philp said: “Our new plan is the only long-term solution to fix the broken system, tackle criminal gangs and prevent further loss of life.
“We will break the business model of people smugglers and cut down on the potential for abuse of the system, allowing us to remove people with no right to be here quicker.”
But Tim Naor Hilton, chief executive of Refugee Action, has called for the Bill to be ditched.
He said: “The Bill is pure political theatre built on a deep lack of understanding of the reality of refugee protection. Its measures focus entirely on how to keep people out rather than how to keep them safe.
“It will lead to an unworkable, unlawful and expensive disaster that will do nothing to stop refugees risking their lives in the Channel.”