Refugees who cross the Channel in small boats will be banned from claiming asylum in the UK, the Home Secretary announced today.
Suella Braverman recieved two standing ovations during her first major speech in which she told Tory conference it is "not racist for anyone to want to control our borders".
The new laws – which go further than the Nationality and Borders Act which came into force in June – would impose a blanket ban on anyone deemed entering the UK illegally from seeking refuge.
In the same speech, Ms Braverman said modern slavery laws are being “abused” by people gaming the system, and she vowed to "take back control".
The Home Secretary appeared extremely confident addressing Tory members who cheered throghout her speech, as she said the UK should use its new-found control, since Brexit, to encourage the "kind of migration that grows our economy".
Speaking from the main stage of the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham, the Home Secretary told members: “We cannot allow a foreign court to undermine the sovereignty of our borders.
“A few months ago, the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg did just that, by a closed process with an unnamed judge and without any representation by the UK. A European Court overrode our Supreme Court and, as a result, our first flight to Rwanda was grounded. We need to take back control.
“I need to be honest with you, the Strasbourg Court is not the only problem. Now, everyone agrees that we must fight the evil of modern slavery. I am immensely proud of this country’s global leadership in protecting genuine victims."
So far this year more than 33,500 people have arrived in the UK after making the journey from France.
Campaigners described the anticipated announcement as “further attacks on genuine refugees” and a “blatant breach” of Britain’s international obligations.
Clare Mosley, founder of refugee charity Care4Calais, said: “This proposal by the new Home Secretary is barbaric, untruthful and unnecessary.
“Those who have escaped from the worst horrors in this world should not be risking their lives once again simply to claim asylum in the UK. The obvious answer is to give them safe passage. This would break the model of people smugglers and save lives.
“If this Government truly wanted to stop small boat crossings it would offer safe passage to those who have a viable claim for asylum.”
Refugee Action’s chief executive Tim Naor Hilton branded it a “day of shame for the Government”, adding: “It is now clear that this Home Secretary cares only for keeping people out, not keeping them safe. Banning those crossing the Channel from claiming asylum is a blatant breach of the international refugee laws that the UK proudly helped create in the first place.”
Steve Valdez-Symonds, Amnesty International UK’s refugee and migrant rights director, warned that declaring the country an “asylum-free zone would make the UK a beacon for illegality” and that the Government’s behaviour was “doing serious damage to the UK’s international reputation”.
Former Tory chief whip Andrew Mitchell said the plan would only work if the UK makes a deal with France, telling BBC Radio 4’s World at One programme she would need to “improve and mend the extremely fractious relationship which existed between Boris (Johnson) and President Macron.”
