In the House of Commons today, the Prime Minister unveiled a range of measures designed to strengthen immigration laws and combat illegal migration whilst ensuring that fairness remains at the core of the approach for those who genuinely need protection under UK asylum laws.
The new measures include:
- A new agreement with Albania so that the vast majority of Albanian claimants can be removed – with weekly flights until all Albanians in our backlog are returned to Albania.
- A new, permanent, unified Small Boats Operational Command in the Channel with 700 new staff which will bring together military and civilian capabilities supported by the National Crime Agency and greater use of technology such as drones – in order to intercept more boats in the Channel.
- Tougher immigration enforcement with 200 new staff and better data sharing with banks.
- Cheaper accommodation sites.
- Clearing the initial asylum backlog by 2023 by doubling the number of caseworkers and radically streamlining the process. There will be a doubling of asylum caseworkers to 2,500 and a radically simplified casework process–with shorter guidance, fewer interviews, less paperwork and specialist case workers by nationality.
One-third of all those arriving in small boats this year are from Albania, despite it being a safe and prosperous European country. Germany, France, Belgium, and Sweden reject almost 100 per cent of Albanian asylum claims–yet the UK’s rejection rate is just 45 percent. As the Albanian Prime Minister has said, there is no reason why we cannot return Albanian asylum seekers immediately. The new agreement will ensure that this happens.
In addition, the law will be changed early in the next year when the Government introduces new legislation to make it clear that if people enter the UK illegally they should not be able to remain – but should be swiftly detained and removed.
During the Prime Minister's statement, Richard asked about the need to ensure the Home Office is held accountable for effective delivery of these plans and that there was proper accountability. The Prime Minister set out how transparent metrics would be published and that the outcomes above would be delivered in the way he has outlined. Richard's question is available above.
Speaking following the Prime Minister's statement, Richard Fuller MP said: "As the Prime Minister said today, over 40,000 people have illegally crossed the Channel in small boats this year, putting pressure on public services and this is despite the enhanced measures already put in place. It is clear that there is a need to go further. Many people crossing the Channel come from safe countries such as Albania and travel through safe countries such as France. It is unfair on those who come to the UK legally, unfair on those who have a genuine asylum claim and unfair on the British people who play by the rules and have always been fair in welcoming those fleeing oppression, such as when we welcomed people from Ukraine earlier this year and Afghanistan last year. I welcome these measures and look forward to supporting the new laws when they are introduced."
