Chris Philp MP is the Shadow Home Secretary.
Britain’s asylum system is completely broken.
Since Labour came to power, more than 75,000 people have arrived in our country illegally via small boats.
Their foolish move to scrap the Rwanda scheme without any alternative plan has backfired spectacularly.
If your first act coming to Britain is to break the law, you should have no right to stay here. Yet Labour also reversed the ban on illegal migrants claiming asylum introduced by the Conservatives.
Despite this surge in small boat arrivals, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is opening new asylum routes in a sop to Labour backbenchers ahead of Andy Burnham’s coronation.
There is no placating many of these MPs who, amazingly, think the Government has been too harsh on illegal migrants.
Last week, nearly 80 of them wrote to the PM-in-waiting, calling for even more asylum routes to be opened.
They also called for migrants to be given the right to work – despite a jobs crisis fuelled by Labour’s tax hikes and red tape that has sent unemployment up by a staggering 300,000. Rather than helping Brits find work, these MPs are focussed on giving illegal migrants a leg up on the career ladder.
These backbenchers are divorced from reality and the wishes of the public. The incoming Prime Minister therefore faces a choice. The outgoing Prime Minister sealed his political fate when he caved to his backbenchers over much-needed cuts to welfare spending. He never regained his authority.
Burnham will face just the same challenge over migration. The public want action, but his backbenchers don’t. He will need to decide quickly whose side he is on, and whether he intends to govern for the Labour left or the country.
That is why we are challenging Burnham to toughen up the Immigration and Asylum Bill ahead of its second reading today.
The Conservatives have tabled a reasoned amendment to the Bill, calling for four key things.
First, reinstating the complete ban on asylum claims by illegal migrants.
Second, a ban on illegal migrants from ever obtaining British citizenship – something else the last Conservative Government introduced, but was then scrapped by Starmer.
Third, leaving the ECHR to allow the deportation of all foreign criminals, including the Rochdale grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed, and all illegal migrants.
And fourth, the urgent introduction of the changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain that the Government promised last year. Since Shabana Mahmood announced this policy, 65,000 people who entered on work visas have ben granted ILR meaning they can stay here forever. It’s yet another example of tough talking and no action from the Home Secretary.
These measures are crucial to getting a handle on the problem.
Our amendment will go to a vote, so Labour MPs and those of other parties will have the chance to show publicly whether they are serious about tackling the crisis in the Channel, or if they prefer to bury their heads in the sand and try to ignore the reality in front of their eyes.
Also needed is emergency legislation to urgently close the 1971 loophole that is protecting Shabir Ahmed.
His crimes are among the most vile and wicked acts conceivable. Yet under current rules, he cannot be deported.
That has to change, and it has to change now. And if Pakistan continue in their attempts to dodge taking him back, Labour should adopt the Conservatives’ policy of imposing visa bans and halting any foreign aid.
Last year, the Government granted almost 150,000 visas to Pakistan. Now they are refusing to take one single criminal back. This cannot be allowed to stand.
We hope, for the sake of the country, that Burnham will see sense. This should not be a party political issue – which is why we have repeatedly offered to work with Labour to tackle illegal migration.
As with so much else, there is no sign of any plan from Burnham for how to do that.
But luckily for him, the Conservatives have a ready made plan that we’d be more than happy for him to steal.
The question now is whether he intends to be a Starmer tribute act, running scared of reality and his own backbenchers, or someone who shows the bravery to confront the urgent issues facing our country. The honeymoon period for Burnham will be short, and he cannot afford to waste any time getting to grips with power.
Sadly, it looks increasingly clear that whoever the PM is, the problem is Labour. Their MPs want more migrants, more spending, more debt, more taxes. They have learned nothing from the failures of the past two years, and think the answer to the country’s problems is to tack to the left.
Whatever happens, the Conservatives will keep fighting for our BORDERS plan, including leaving the ECHR and deporting all foreign criminals. We are the only party with the plan and the leadership to fix the crisis off our coast and secure our borders.
Chris Philp MP is the Shadow Home Secretary.
Britain’s asylum system is completely broken.
Since Labour came to power, more than 75,000 people have arrived in our country illegally via small boats.
Their foolish move to scrap the Rwanda scheme without any alternative plan has backfired spectacularly.
If your first act coming to Britain is to break the law, you should have no right to stay here. Yet Labour also reversed the ban on illegal migrants claiming asylum introduced by the Conservatives.
Despite this surge in small boat arrivals, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is opening new asylum routes in a sop to Labour backbenchers ahead of Andy Burnham’s coronation.
There is no placating many of these MPs who, amazingly, think the Government has been too harsh on illegal migrants.
Last week, nearly 80 of them wrote to the PM-in-waiting, calling for even more asylum routes to be opened.
They also called for migrants to be given the right to work – despite a jobs crisis fuelled by Labour’s tax hikes and red tape that has sent unemployment up by a staggering 300,000. Rather than helping Brits find work, these MPs are focussed on giving illegal migrants a leg up on the career ladder.
These backbenchers are divorced from reality and the wishes of the public. The incoming Prime Minister therefore faces a choice. The outgoing Prime Minister sealed his political fate when he caved to his backbenchers over much-needed cuts to welfare spending. He never regained his authority.
Burnham will face just the same challenge over migration. The public want action, but his backbenchers don’t. He will need to decide quickly whose side he is on, and whether he intends to govern for the Labour left or the country.
That is why we are challenging Burnham to toughen up the Immigration and Asylum Bill ahead of its second reading today.
The Conservatives have tabled a reasoned amendment to the Bill, calling for four key things.
First, reinstating the complete ban on asylum claims by illegal migrants.
Second, a ban on illegal migrants from ever obtaining British citizenship – something else the last Conservative Government introduced, but was then scrapped by Starmer.
Third, leaving the ECHR to allow the deportation of all foreign criminals, including the Rochdale grooming gang ringleader Shabir Ahmed, and all illegal migrants.
And fourth, the urgent introduction of the changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain that the Government promised last year. Since Shabana Mahmood announced this policy, 65,000 people who entered on work visas have ben granted ILR meaning they can stay here forever. It’s yet another example of tough talking and no action from the Home Secretary.
These measures are crucial to getting a handle on the problem.
Our amendment will go to a vote, so Labour MPs and those of other parties will have the chance to show publicly whether they are serious about tackling the crisis in the Channel, or if they prefer to bury their heads in the sand and try to ignore the reality in front of their eyes.
Also needed is emergency legislation to urgently close the 1971 loophole that is protecting Shabir Ahmed.
His crimes are among the most vile and wicked acts conceivable. Yet under current rules, he cannot be deported.
That has to change, and it has to change now. And if Pakistan continue in their attempts to dodge taking him back, Labour should adopt the Conservatives’ policy of imposing visa bans and halting any foreign aid.
Last year, the Government granted almost 150,000 visas to Pakistan. Now they are refusing to take one single criminal back. This cannot be allowed to stand.
We hope, for the sake of the country, that Burnham will see sense. This should not be a party political issue – which is why we have repeatedly offered to work with Labour to tackle illegal migration.
As with so much else, there is no sign of any plan from Burnham for how to do that.
But luckily for him, the Conservatives have a ready made plan that we’d be more than happy for him to steal.
The question now is whether he intends to be a Starmer tribute act, running scared of reality and his own backbenchers, or someone who shows the bravery to confront the urgent issues facing our country. The honeymoon period for Burnham will be short, and he cannot afford to waste any time getting to grips with power.
Sadly, it looks increasingly clear that whoever the PM is, the problem is Labour. Their MPs want more migrants, more spending, more debt, more taxes. They have learned nothing from the failures of the past two years, and think the answer to the country’s problems is to tack to the left.
Whatever happens, the Conservatives will keep fighting for our BORDERS plan, including leaving the ECHR and deporting all foreign criminals. We are the only party with the plan and the leadership to fix the crisis off our coast and secure our borders.