Channel migrants will be banned from claiming asylum in the UK , under Rishi Sunak’s bold plans.
Landmark legislation will bar illegal arrivals from staying and applying on refugee, modern slavery or human rights grounds. Only children and the gravely ill will be allowed to remain in Britain while cases are considered.
To avoid creating a dash to reach Britain, the rules will be effective from now even though it could be months before they are on the statute book.
The new Bill is also expected to give Parliament the power to set an annual cap on the number of refugees accepted into the country – with local authorities being consulted on how many they can take.
The PM is set to visit the South East as he trumpets the blueprint, part of his vow to ‘stop the boats’ after 45,000 people made the perilous crossing last year.
However, Home Secretary Suella Braverman has conceded the initiative ‘pushes the boundaries’ of international law and the government faces challenges in the courts and in Parliament.
Critics have also warned that the proposals are ‘unworkable’ because the UK does not have anywhere safe it can send the numbers who cross the Channel.
Cabinet was being briefed on the measures this morning before the formal announcement.
Mr Sunak admitted voters ‘have heard promises before’ without seeing results, but insisted his legislation ‘will mean that those who come here on small boats can’t claim asylum here’.
He wrote in the Sun: ‘This new law will send a clear signal that if you come to this country illegally, you will be swiftly removed.’
The PM said it was a plan ‘to do what’s fair for those at home and those who have a legitimate claim to asylum — a plan to take back control of our borders once and for all’.
Mr Sunak spoke to Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame before unveiling his plans, and pledged to continue working with him to ensure their stalled project works.
The Government has paid more than £140million to Rwanda but no flights forcibly carrying migrants to the capital of Kigali have taken off because of legal challenges.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: ‘The leaders committed to continue working together to ensure this important partnership is delivered successfully.’
The PM will meet Emmanuel Macron on Friday to discuss further cooperation that will be required to reduce channel boat crossings.
Writing in the Telegraph, Ms Braverman – who is due to make a Commons statement at lunchtime – said: ‘We must stop the boats and that’s what our bill will do. 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.
‘If you come here illegally it must be that you cannot stay.’
A duty will be placed on the Home Secretary to remove ‘as soon as reasonably practicable’ anyone who arrives on a small boat, either to Rwanda or a ‘safe third country’.
And arrivals will be prevented from claiming asylum while in the UK, with plans also to ban them from returning once removed.
