More Channel boats arrive in UK as Sunak prepares to unveil crackdown on migrants
6 March 2023, 08:24 | Updated: 6 March 2023, 13:37
Migrants are continuing to make their way across the Channel on small boats, despite Rishi Sunak announcing plans to ban them from returning or claiming citizenship under fresh laws.
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Around 40 migrants were brought into Dover by the RNLI on Monday - the first group to make the journey in over a week.
It comes after the PM pledged to halt crossings under new laws aimed at working around the European Convention on Human Rights.
Rishi Sunak and Suella Braverman will seek to make all asylum claims made by Channel migrants inadmissible in the Illegal Migration Bill to be introduced on Tuesday.
Mr Sunak said that "if you come here illegally, you will not to be able to stay".
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On Monday speaking to Nick Ferrari at Breakfast on LBC the Science Secretary Michelle Donelan said the plan was a "common sense" approach to solving the issue of migrants crossing the Channel.
The top Tory told Nick the "general principal" of the policy was "if you enter the country illegally then you shouldn't be able to stay, I think that's a common sense approach, it's the right approach."
But, the Minister could not be drawn on the exact details of the scheme.
Science Sec says banning migrants who come to UK illegally is 'common sense'
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said: "Enough is enough. The British people want this solved.
“They are sick of tough talk and inadequate action. We must stop the boats."
Home Office figures show 2,950 migrants have crossed the Channel already this year, compared with a record 45,000 during the whole of 2022.
The total cost of the new policies will be around £3 billion, according to The Times.
That's roughly the same amount that the government spends on its current asylum policies each year.
Under the new laws, asylum claims made by those who arrive in the UK on small boats will be inadmissable.
The home secretary will also be expected to send small boat arrivals to Rwanda or a "safe third country" as soon as "reasonably practicable".
Arrivals will also be prevented from claiming asylum while in the UK.
The laws will also seek to ban Channel arrivals from returning once removed.
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Senior Tories told the Independent there are growing concerns that Mr Sunak had “over-promised” and will be forced to break his pledge before the next general election.
However, others believed the move would ensure the government could "get a grip" on the migrant crisis.
Rishi Sunak's official spokesman said: "Once we have control of our borders, we will be able to open more routes, which is the fair and safe way to bring people across."
He declined to give more details before the Government sets out its plans on Tuesday.
On deporting migrants, the official said: "Our focus will be on deporting people to safe third countries, or indeed back to their country of origin.
"That is the stated aim and, obviously, we have the agreement with Rwanda, we have some returns agreement."
