A senior minister has said tougher rules are needed to prevent rising “small boats” crossings to the UK. Michelle Donelan, the science innovation and technology secretary, said the UK needs “robust processes” in place as many people arriving illegally have travelled via safe countries. It comes as the government is expected to publish its new
In a statement to the House of Commons, home secretary Priti Patel told MPs that she remains “committed” to the policy to fly asylum seekers to Rwanda when they illegally enter the UK despite the European Court of Human Rights halting the flight. Labour’s Yvette Cooper accused the home secretary of knowing “she didn’t have…
The former director general of the border force warned a defence committee hearing this morning that ‘The navy can’t prioritise saving life and stopping migrants at the same time’. Sir Charles Montgomery, who is also a retired royal navy officer, made the comments during an evidence session on the use of the military in countering…
The home secretary Priti Patel has batted away suggestions her department is failing to deal with increases in migrant Channel crossings, accusing Labour of “standing up for unlimited migration”.Responding to an urgent question on the government’s handling of the migrant Channel crossings by small boats, the home secretary claimed: “The only solution to this problem is…
The Home Office has confirmed that only five asylum-seekers have been returned to the European nations in 2021, amid post-Brexit difficulties on a returns agreement. Tom Pursglove, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for Immigration, confirmed to the home affairs committee that illegal Channel crossings rose to 23,000 this year, compared to 8,500 last year. Despite…
Home secretary Priti Patel has hinted that asylum seekers arriving with too much documentation may be barred entry from the UK. Talking to the Lords’ justice and home affairs committee, Patel said: “We are granting asylum to those that are genuine asylum seekers, not those who turn up at primary control points at our airports and…
