On 4 October 2020, at the Conservative Party Conference, the Home Secretary announced that she will bring forward legislation to deliver the biggest overhaul of our asylum system in decades.
An asylum system should provide safe haven to those fleeing persecution, oppression or tyranny. But right now, ours enables an international criminal trade to elbow the most vulnerable to the side.
After decades of inaction, we will introduce legislation to make our broken system fairer and firmer. Fair and compassionate towards those who need our help – welcoming people through safe and legal routes. Firm, by stopping the abuse of the system by those who come here illegally – sometimes via small boat, asylum shop and make endless vexatious claims to remain.
Under Conservative leadership, the United Kingdom has and always will provide sanctuary when the lights are being switched off on people’s liberties.
How Will the System be Fixed?
We will introduce legislation to overhaul our current broken asylum system, ensuring it is compassionate towards those who need our help by welcoming people through safe and legal routes, but also stopping the exploitation of the broken system by those who come here illegally, asylum shop and make endless vexatious claims to remain.
We will accelerate our operational response to illegal migration, by using the full force of our National Crime Agency and intelligence agencies to hunt down the criminal gangs who traffic people into our country, making more immediate returns of those who come here illegally and break our rules, and exploring all other practical measures and options to deter illegal migration.
We are urging the French to ensure that migrants who are caught attempting to reach the UK by boat are prevented from trying again, and are offering to work with them on joint exercises at sea to demonstrate how boats can be intercepted and returned safely.
The Future
An asylum system should provide safe haven to those fleeing persecution, oppression or tyranny. But right now, ours enables an international criminal trade to elbow the most vulnerable to the side.
We will introduce legislation to make our broken system fairer and firmer. Fair and compassionate towards those who need our help – welcoming people through safe and legal routes. Firm, by stopping the abuse of the system by those who come here illegally – sometimes via small boat, asylum shop and make endless vexatious claims to remain.
The Government will deliver the biggest overhaul of our asylum system in decades, making it fairer and firmer. Efforts will be stepped up to stop illegal migration, delivering on the priorities of the British people. Additionally, a two-fold plan will be set up to stop small boats from leaving France in the first place, and intercepting and returning anyone attempting to make a crossing.
Commenting, Rebecca Harris MP said:
“I welcome this announcement; it is an important issue for my constituents in Castle Point. I am glad to see that the Government is developing plans to reform our illegal migration and asylum policies so we can keep providing protection to those who need it, while preventing abuse of the system and criminality."
