Migrant Bill to 'push the boundaries of law'

Political battle lines have been drawn in Britain ahead of Tuesday's parliamentary introduction of a new Illegal Migration Bill, which Home Secretary Suella Braverman says will push "the boundaries of international law".

Under the legislation the home secretary's "duty to remove" will take legal priority over the right to claim asylum.

Removal to Rwanda or a "safe" third country would be fulfilled "as soon as reasonably practicable", regardless of where someone came from, although legal challenges mean Britain has yet to send anyone to the African country, despite having agreed a multi-million pound deal to do so nearly 12 months ago.

Anyone removed under the legislation would be blocked from returning to the country or applying for British citizenship in the future, and a clause means it would be applied retrospectively, so anyone entering the country illegally from the day the legislation was tabled, rather than the day it potentially became law, could face deportation.

Last year more than 45,000 people entered the country by crossing the English Channel from mainland Europe in small boats, up from around 300 in 2018.

"We must stop the boats and that's what our bill will do," Braverman told the Daily Express newspaper. "No more sticking plasters or shying away from the difficult decisions.

"Myself and the prime minister have been working tirelessly to ensure we have a bill that works — we've pushed the boundaries of international law to solve this crisis. We owe it to the British people."

With the message of taking back control of Britain's borders having been so significant in the 2016 Brexit referendum and its aftermath, the government is likely to make migration a key issue at the next general election, and is keen to be seen to be taking action, with a pledge to "stop the boats" having been one of five key promises made in a recent speech by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

He told The Sun newspaper voters had "heard promises before "but this legislation would "send a clear signal that if you come to this country illegally, you will be swiftly removed".

Opposition Labour Party leader Keir Starmer called the plans "unworkable", and questioned their feasibility, adding "I think we've got to be very careful with international law here".

The Liberal Democrats said the plans were "immoral, ineffective and incredibly costly for taxpayers while doing nothing to stop small boat crossings".

Outside Parliament, the Refugee Council charity said the proposals would "shatter the UK's longstanding commitment under the (United Nations' Refugee Convention) to give people a fair hearing regardless of the path they have taken to reach our shores".