Stopping illegal migration is an issue that is extremely important to people in Runnymede and Weybridge, and across the country. It is one of the topics on which I am contacted frequently by constituents.
The UK’s approach to asylum needs to be fair, both to asylum seekers themselves and to our communities. Many of you will be aware of my strong belief that this must be realised through safe and legal routes, and proportionate and sustainable support for asylum seekers across the UK.
So I was pleased to speak in parliament about the Government’s Safety of Rwanda Bill earlier this week.
At the time of his appointment, the Prime Minister made five key promises to the public, one of which was to pass new laws to stop small boat arrivals to the UK, and I acknowledge his relentless hard work and tenacity which has led to a significant reduction in small boat crossings, although overall numbers remain far too high.
However, the Prime Minister’s strategy has been opposed at every turn by opposition parties, through the legal system and by those seeking to make profit from the illegal trafficking of people to our shores. The UK’s membership of the ECHR is often cited as the barrier standing between Government will and control of our borders. These problems are presented as unique to the UK, but this is not the case. They are shared by our neighbours and allies across Europe. Many of these countries face their own - often greater - challenges with illegal migration, as well as being bound by common treaty obligations under the ECHR and Refugee Convention.
In my speech, I called on the Government to work even more closely with our European partners to agree common measures for tackling the generational challenge of illegal migration. I have written to the Foreign Secretary to ask him to outline his plans on this crucial issue.
This is a long-term solution to a long-term problem, and I have pledged to assist the Government in any way I can to achieve this essential cooperation.
You can view my speech in full above.
