James Daly is the Conservative MP for Bury North. Philip Davies is the Conservative MP for Shipley.
The UK is a generous and outward-looking country. Since 2015, we have taken in thousands of people through our Ukraine, Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Syria schemes to help those that need to escape conflict and abuse.
However, the number of people arriving illegally, by making dangerous channel crossings, has increased to the point where it is unsustainable. We must restore confidence in the asylum system.
The Prime Minister has been clear that stopping the boats is an absolute priority for him, and he has already made significant progress. The number of arrivals in the UK is down by a third; the first time that numbers have gone in the right direction. Meanwhile, other European countries are seeing crossings up by 80 percent.
However, we very obviously need to do more. Earlier this year, we did a deal that removed the prospect of illegal migrants from Albania settling in the United Kingdom. As a result, arrivals from Albania are down by 90 percent.
We are also building on the Illegal Migration Act, which sits alongside a suite of other measures that we are deploying to tackle illegal immigration. This includes the largest ever small boats deal with France, tackling the supply of boats and parts, and the arrest and conviction of people smugglers.
What have we learnt so far? That a deterrent works. Take the example of Australia. When Australia introduced its Operation Sovereign Borders policy, the number of small boats arriving went from 18,000 in 2013 to almost zero.
We have to make it very clear that illegal migrants cannot settle here, and that we can control our borders. We must be able to remove illegal migrants to Rwanda.
When the Supreme Court brought forward their judgement, Rishi Sunak was very robust in his response. At the same time, he promised emergency legislation, which will be introduced in the House of Commons tomorrow.
This is supported by a legally-binding treaty, backed up by evidence that Rwanda is a safe and prosperous country. Both the UK and Rwanda are completely committed to this partnership, with both sides willing to do what it takes to get the deal up and running, with flights taking off as soon as possible.
This will put a stop to the relentless back and forth with the courts and end, for once and for all, the legal challenges to our plan to stop the boats.
The legislation is unambiguous. It confirms that Rwanda is a safe country, notwithstanding British law or any interpretation of international law, including the Human Rights Convention, the Refugee Convention, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966. Where the European Court of Human Rights indicates an interim measure relating to the intended removal of someone to Rwanda, the Bill makes it clear that a Minister of the Crown, not a court or a tribunal, will decide how to respond.
Crucially, by disapplying parts of the Human Rights Act, we will put a stop to individual claims to prevent removal. This is lawful, fair, and necessary.
It will prevent the courts from second-guessing Parliament’s will. It will also disapply parts of the Human Rights Act so that it can’t be used to block our policy. Illegal migrants will no longer be able to bring systemic challenges in our domestic courts or frustrate removal. The only way that an illegal migrant will be able to stay in the UK will be if they can provide evidence that they face a real risk of serious harm in Rwanda.
At the end of the day, people will only stop coming here illegally when they know that they cannot stay, will be detained and quickly removed to a safe third country.
The Prime Minister has been clear that enough is enough and he will not allow a foreign court to block this policy. If the European Court of Human Rights chooses to intervene, he will do whatever it takes to get flights off the ground.
We don’t have long left to prove to our voters that we have regained control of our borders and fulfilled his pledge to break the cycle, deliver a deterrent, remove the incentive and stop the boats. Parliament and the public support our plan, and other countries have since copied what we are doing. The deterrent effect will be further magnified when flights begin to take off.
Labour has absolutely no plan or desire to deport any illegal migrants. Anyone who cares about this issue needs to get behind the Prime Minister and not make the same mistake as Sir Keir Starmer by playing into the hands of the people smugglers, encouraging ever more illegal immigration into the country.
The rapid, and tough, action that is being taken by the government is a step in the right direction. We need to get behind it, pass the legislation and deliver on what is an absolute priority for the British people.
James Daly is the Conservative MP for Bury North. Philip Davies is the Conservative MP for Shipley.
The UK is a generous and outward-looking country. Since 2015, we have taken in thousands of people through our Ukraine, Hong Kong, Afghanistan and Syria schemes to help those that need to escape conflict and abuse.
However, the number of people arriving illegally, by making dangerous channel crossings, has increased to the point where it is unsustainable. We must restore confidence in the asylum system.
The Prime Minister has been clear that stopping the boats is an absolute priority for him, and he has already made significant progress. The number of arrivals in the UK is down by a third; the first time that numbers have gone in the right direction. Meanwhile, other European countries are seeing crossings up by 80 percent.
However, we very obviously need to do more. Earlier this year, we did a deal that removed the prospect of illegal migrants from Albania settling in the United Kingdom. As a result, arrivals from Albania are down by 90 percent.
We are also building on the Illegal Migration Act, which sits alongside a suite of other measures that we are deploying to tackle illegal immigration. This includes the largest ever small boats deal with France, tackling the supply of boats and parts, and the arrest and conviction of people smugglers.
What have we learnt so far? That a deterrent works. Take the example of Australia. When Australia introduced its Operation Sovereign Borders policy, the number of small boats arriving went from 18,000 in 2013 to almost zero.
We have to make it very clear that illegal migrants cannot settle here, and that we can control our borders. We must be able to remove illegal migrants to Rwanda.
When the Supreme Court brought forward their judgement, Rishi Sunak was very robust in his response. At the same time, he promised emergency legislation, which will be introduced in the House of Commons tomorrow.
This is supported by a legally-binding treaty, backed up by evidence that Rwanda is a safe and prosperous country. Both the UK and Rwanda are completely committed to this partnership, with both sides willing to do what it takes to get the deal up and running, with flights taking off as soon as possible.
This will put a stop to the relentless back and forth with the courts and end, for once and for all, the legal challenges to our plan to stop the boats.
The legislation is unambiguous. It confirms that Rwanda is a safe country, notwithstanding British law or any interpretation of international law, including the Human Rights Convention, the Refugee Convention, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights of 1966. Where the European Court of Human Rights indicates an interim measure relating to the intended removal of someone to Rwanda, the Bill makes it clear that a Minister of the Crown, not a court or a tribunal, will decide how to respond.
Crucially, by disapplying parts of the Human Rights Act, we will put a stop to individual claims to prevent removal. This is lawful, fair, and necessary.
It will prevent the courts from second-guessing Parliament’s will. It will also disapply parts of the Human Rights Act so that it can’t be used to block our policy. Illegal migrants will no longer be able to bring systemic challenges in our domestic courts or frustrate removal. The only way that an illegal migrant will be able to stay in the UK will be if they can provide evidence that they face a real risk of serious harm in Rwanda.
At the end of the day, people will only stop coming here illegally when they know that they cannot stay, will be detained and quickly removed to a safe third country.
The Prime Minister has been clear that enough is enough and he will not allow a foreign court to block this policy. If the European Court of Human Rights chooses to intervene, he will do whatever it takes to get flights off the ground.
We don’t have long left to prove to our voters that we have regained control of our borders and fulfilled his pledge to break the cycle, deliver a deterrent, remove the incentive and stop the boats. Parliament and the public support our plan, and other countries have since copied what we are doing. The deterrent effect will be further magnified when flights begin to take off.
Labour has absolutely no plan or desire to deport any illegal migrants. Anyone who cares about this issue needs to get behind the Prime Minister and not make the same mistake as Sir Keir Starmer by playing into the hands of the people smugglers, encouraging ever more illegal immigration into the country.
The rapid, and tough, action that is being taken by the government is a step in the right direction. We need to get behind it, pass the legislation and deliver on what is an absolute priority for the British people.