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A new law to crack down on small boats crossing the Channel is due to be unveiled next week by Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman, ahead of an expected surge in migrant arrivals in the spring.
The Prime Minister and Home Secretary announce a new law banning all asylum applications from people coming to Britain on small boats.
Anyone attempting to reach the UK via the Channel will be transferred to a safe third country such as Rwanda “as soon as reasonably practicable” under the scheme. They are also “permanently” banned from returning home.
This is a significant departure from current law which gives all asylum seekers the right to remain in the UK and be heard.
After 45,756 migrants crossed the strait last year, a 60% increase from 2021, Sunak has made ‘stopping ships’ one of his five key priorities as prime minister.
Braverman, meanwhile, has repeatedly pledged to take a hard line on illegal immigration, and last year ruffled his wings when he described the number of migrants arriving on the South Coast as an “invasion.”
She said last year when she was Home Secretary that it was her “dream” and “obsession” to see deportation planes to Rwanda take off from mainland Britain.
This is to prepare the UK for a surge in channel crossings this spring, and attempts to reach the UK by small boats typically peak during the more seasonal weather from May to September. reaches
While more than 2,500 migrants have crossed the English Channel into the UK so far this year, no people have been detected in UK waters in the past seven days.
However, the new law is expected to face significant legal challenges amid concerns that it will violate the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
Christina Marriott, executive director of strategy for the Red Cross, called it “extremely concerning.”
she said:
“I keep hearing that being stricter is not an effective strategy because they have no prior knowledge of the UK asylum system.”
Sonya Sheets, CEO of the charity Freedom from Torture, said: Rishi Sunak has intensified brutality against people fleeing torture and war to distract him from the scandals that continue to engulf his government.
“This law will not reduce the number of deaths in the Strait, nor the chaos and incompetence that ravage our asylum system, nor will it guarantee sanctuary for those who need it.”
“Rather than scapegoating refugees, Rishi Sunak has been working in the UK to rebuild an asylum system that can give refugees a fair hearing and open a safe path to protection. We must not be compelled to risk our lives for the safety of others.”
Refugee Council Chief Executive Ember Soloman said:
“Most men, women and children crossing the English Channel are desperate to escape war, conflict and persecution.
“The government’s flawed laws can’t stop the boats, but tens of thousands of people have been detained at great cost, left suspended forever, and criminals who simply sought refuge. will be treated as
With immigration expected to be a key battleground ahead of the next general election in two years, Tory voters are expected to step up their rhetoric in an attempt to win voters.
It comes as a vote of I Last week, Labor showed support over Conservatives in almost every policy area, including immigration.
A BMG study found that if the election were held now, Labor would maintain a 17-point lead over the Tories, a result similar to the 1997 general election.
Voters said they believed Labor would do a better job than the current administration in all policy areas except the war in Ukraine.Opposition parties focused on traditional Tory priorities like defense, immigration and crime. even supported
Snack’s appointment of Lee Anderson as Conservative Vice-President last month was seen by many as a sign of pressure on Conservative MPs to strengthen their stance on immigration.
Mr Anderson has previously said the UK asylum system is overwhelmed with “Albanian criminals” who leave the safe country and come to Britain.
About 16,000 Albanians applied for asylum last year, according to the latest official figures. bottom. That makes up her one-fifth of all applicants, up from 685 a decade ago.
Although the prime minister is understood to be resisting such a plan, Mr Sunak also called for a hardline Tory party to withdraw from the ECHR so the UK could take a tougher policy on immigration. We are facing increasing pressure from back ventures.
It is said to be keen to ensure that the new law on small boats is as “legally watertight” as possible to avoid a repeat of the Rwandan deportation scheme. take off