Labour is calling on the Tories to clamp down on people-smuggling gangs as record numbers of migrants risk their lives making perilous journeys in small boats.
Ministers believe there will be a massive increase in dangerous Channel crossings this summer despite Rishi Sunak ’s pledge to “stop the boats”.
The Government is looking at the possibility of using emergency detention orders if there is sustained rise in the numbers of people arriving.
But critics last night demanded they ditch “gimmicks” – such as the idea of housing asylum seekers on barges – and instead tackle the criminal gangs profiting from the crossings.
This week has been the busiest week for small boat crossings since the start of the year. More than 1,100 people have come to UK shores in seven days. Prime Minister Mr Sunak has said that stopping the boats is one of his main priorities but has set himself no deadline for ending the crossings.
Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock said: “The Prime Minister promised to stop the boats. But all we’ve seen from the Conservatives is a skyrocketing asylum backlog, millions spent on hotels, thousands still crossing the Channel and new legislation that will make it all worse.
“Labour will put common sense and hard graft before headline-grabbing gimmicks with our plan to tackle smuggling gangs.” He said his party would fast-track the return of unsuccessful applicants to safe countries and negotiate a new deal on returns with France and other countries.
As Mr Sunak unveiled new legislation to tackle the issue of Channel crossings last month, he said it would apply retrospectively, to prevent a rush before it comes into force.
Under the new law, asylum seekers could be detained indefinitely before being removed to a country deemed “safe” such as Rwanda. It has been denounced by the United Nations’ refugee agency as effectively an “asylum ban” and critics have warned it gives ministers the power to lock up children.
A record 45,755 migrants arrived in the UK after crossing the Channel last year. More than 4,800 have already made the journey so far this year. Tomorrow marks one year since the Government unveiled its plan to send new arrivals to Rwanda. It has spent £140million but no one has been deported yet. The scheme is mired in legal actions but the Government has said it hopes flights will start in summer.
The Home Office said the number of crossings was “placing an unprecedented strain on our asylum system”.
It added: “We are working to speed up asylum processing so that people do not wait months or years. The Government has gone further by introducing legislation which will ensure that those people arriving in the UK illegally are detained and promptly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country.”
* Scientists last night warned the crossings have led to a “sharp increase” in diphtheria in the UK and across Europe.
