Failure to tackle small boats is ‘not an option’, warns immigration minister Robert Jenrick
FAILURE to tackle the small boats crisis “is not an option”, immigration minister Robert Jenrick warns – as he faces a mad dash to get the law passed this week.
But Labour is plotting to torpedo the plan with a wrecking amendment to keep Britain under the yolk of foreign judges for its borders policy.
Tabled by Corbynista peer Shami Chakrabarti, Tories said the “meddlers charter” would let international courts block deportations to Rwanda forever.
No10’s flagship Illegal Migration Bill is in Parliament this week where it faces a fierce battle of “ping pong” between the Commons and the Lords.
Mr Jenrick told The Sun on Sunday that leftie lords and MPs should cease their war on the borders plan.
He said: ‘’We must take the tough action necessary to stop the illegal, dangerous and unnecessary crossings, and restore fairness and order to our immigration system.
“Inaction is not an option. And those that oppose our plan to Stop the Boats have put forward no alternative.
“Those who oppose this Bill – like Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour and Lib Dem MPs and peers trying to block it – are showing contempt towards hard-working communities across the UK are unfairly affected by illegal migration in their day to day lives.
“They have no plan – as always they only carp from the sidelines.
“Every MP and peer now faces a very simple choice: side with the law-abiding British public and back our Stop the Boats Bill, or continue to side with the people smugglers and the law breakers.”
The Bill returns to the Commons today. MPs pack up for summer on Thursday – giving No10 just four days to pass the law.
Around a dozen Tory MPs – including former PM Theresa May – plan to rebel and back amendments on modern slavery and child migrants.
Ringleader Tim Loughton said they “back the Bill” but “it has got to go through with safeguards”.
But fellow Tory MP Marco Longhi told his Conservative colleagues to stop picking holes and give the Bill their full support.
He said: “Any Conservative rebels should be very clear that if they vote against their government and with the Lords they would be going against the will of the people, and their Prime Minister, over proposals that will deter people from significant harm and will then break up the people smugglers’ business model.
“The current system effectively supports smugglers’ dirty business.”
But ministers have signalled there will be no more concessions as this risks watering down and undermining the Bill.
Labour lords and MPs will vote against the law.
A Tory source said: “The Chakrabati amendment is nothing more than a meddler’s charter, inviting leftie lawyers to use spurious international law arguments to block deportations to Rwanda.
“MPs should see it for what it is – an underhand ploy from Starmer’s Labour Lords to scupper our plan to stop the boats that will only serve to help the exploitive smuggling gangs.
“They should vote it down.”