Tough new laws will prevent asylum seekers coming from countries like France to seek refuge in Britain.
New legislation in the Queen’s Speech aims to deter desperate people from crossing the Channel by banning people from claiming asylum in the UK if they have already travelled through safe countries like France and Belgium.
Some 8,500 people arrived in the UK from Europe last year, making the perilous Channel crossing in small boats – with three times as many estimated this year compared with the same period in 2020.
Under a New Plan for Immigration Legislation, Boris Johnson will bring in more draconian rules around claiming asylum in the UK.
People’s asylum claims will be judged on whether they arrived in the UK legally or illegally for the first time.
And refugees who travelled through countries where they could have safely claimed asylum will be turned away.
The legislation aims to “establish a fairer immigration system that strengthens the United Kingdom’s borders and deters criminals who facilitate dangerous and illegal journeys”.
But the move stoked criticism over attempts to place limits on the right for desperate people to claim asylum in the UK.
Mike Adamson, Chief Executive of the British Red Cross: “We are concerned the proposals we’ve heard so far effectively create an unfair two-tier system, whereby someone’s case and the support they receive is judged on how they entered the country, rather than the danger they face.
“Decisions made during the Sovereign Borders Bill process will have life-changing consequences for the women, men and children who need protection from this country.
“The Government must listen to their voices and understand their concerns.”
The plan was announced as part of the Queen’s Speech, where the monarch reads out the Government’s legislative agenda for the next year at the start of the parliamentary session.
The Prime Minister set out a list of laws to help Britain “build back better” from the Covid pandemic.
But none of the 28 Bills are a firm plan for social care or a solid set of changes to fulfil his goal of “levelling up”.
