UN refugee agency ‘profoundly concerned’ by UK’s illegal migration bill saying it amounts to an asylum ban – as it happened
UNHCR says bill extinguishes the right to seek refugee protection in the UK for those who arrive irregularly. This live blog is closed
Downing Street has said that Rishi Sunak is going to Dover to meet frontline officers dealing with small boat crossings. He will then return to London for a press conference later in the afternoon.
One of the questions raised by Rishi Sunak's small boats bill - or illegal migration bill, to give it its formal name - is to what extent ministers believe it will work, and to what extent they are not that bothered about whether it works because they believe that, if it fails, they will be able to use this in election campaign against Labour.
Unlike Labour who have voted against taking action on this issue, this government has a plan to break the business model of people smugglers.
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.
Labour and others who oppose these measures are betraying hard-working Brits up and down the country - they don't have any answers themselves but they will still seek to block us in parliament.
Continue reading...