As an MP I am contacted about a wide range of issues, but one that has remained very important to me, and one that many people in our constituency have been in touch with me about, is illegal immigration.
Concerns have been raised about the number of people entering the UK illegally and I have continued to flag them with the Government.
That is why I am pleased to see the Government has listened to concerns and is now introducing the Illegal Migration Bill. This landmark legislation will become the cornerstone of our plans to deter illegal immigration.
This Bill has received a great deal of attention over the weekend due to the reaction from some in the media. Unfortunately, this has led to some misinformation being circulated and a misunderstanding by some as to what we are actually seeking to do.
The UK has a proud and long history in being a safe sanctuary for those genuinely seeking refuge from war or persecution, such as we have seen recently with those from Ukraine who have come to Mid-Cornwall.
This country does all it can to help the most vulnerable through safe and legal routes. Since 2015, the UK has offered safe refuge to nearly 480,000 people from all over the world including Syria, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.
However, our hospitality should not be taken advantage of as some have been doing and it is right we close these loopholes while continuing to provide safe routes for those who need it.
This Bill makes it unambiguously clear that those who enter the UK illegally from a safe country are not going to be able to stay here. They will be removed back to their home country if it is safe, or to a safe third country such as Rwanda.
It is vital to stop the arrival of illegal boats that have overwhelmed our asylum system, which now costs taxpayers £3 billion a year. Since 2018, 85,000 people have illegally entered the UK by small boat - 45,000 of them last year alone. They all travelled through a number of safe countries where they could and should have claimed asylum while many came from safe countries, like Albania.
The vast majority – nearly three-quarters in 2021 – were adult males under the age of 40 many of whom have paid criminal people traffickers several thousands of pounds to get here. Once they arrive in the UK most are put in hotels, because we as a country do not have the capacity to house them, currently costing us £6 million a day.
Clearly the need for reform is urgent and the Government has prioritised this issue. I believe this Bill, along with the other steps the government is taking, will deliver the deterrent needed to stop people making these dangerous, illegal crossings and crack down on the criminal gangs who are paid extortionate amounts of money to smuggle people into the UK.
Stopping the boats was one of the five promises the Prime Minister made in January. This legislation, along with other measures, will enable us to fulfil that promise. It is deliverable and achievable and removes various barriers that are currently raised to prevent removals. This means we can take immediate action against those who continue to try and cheat our immigration system.
It will also free up capacity so that we can better support those in genuine need of protection through safe and legal routes. As we reduce illegal migration, we will be able do more to help and open up more recognised legal routes. The Bill will also introduce an annual cap on the number of refugees the UK will accept.
The other benefit is that we will be able to work with local councils to come up with a plan which takes into account local capacity for accommodation, public services, and support. This is something which is particularly important for us in Cornwall. This is important as when immigration is not done sensibly it can place a strain on local infrastructure and services, something I know many people in the constituency have been concerned about.
It is right that we look at every option to speed up the progress on returning illegal immigrants to their countries of origin and an important part of that work must be to tackle the huge backlog of asylum claims, many of which have no merit whatsoever.
No other government is going to work as hard as this one to try and resolve this issue. In April 2022 we signed a ground-breaking economic and migration partnership with Rwanda. The government has said that as soon as the legal challenges are over flights to Rwanda will restart.
The government has also already delivered the largest ever small boats deal with France; a new, permanent, unified Small Boats Operational Command which will include over 700 new staff; tougher immigration enforcement with 200 new staff and a 50% increase in raids; a new deal with Albania which has already enabled the return of hundreds of illegal arrivals; plans to clear the asylum backlog by the end of 2023; and cheaper accommodation sites so we can move migrants out of expensive hotels. The Prime Minister went to France this weekend to agree further measures such as a detention centre in France more cooperation and more personal working on stopping the criminal gangs.
Of course, there will always be those who will try and stand in the way of this Bill. No other party has come forward with solutions to tackle this global crisis nor have they said they will be supporting this legislation. Instead, it looks like they will be opposing it.
However, I will continue to give my full support to the government and this legislation, and all other endeavours, to secure our borders and tackle illegal immigration.
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