Question to the Home Secretary 05/06/23
Ridiculous state of affairs over the weekend with those who have illegally entered our country complaining that they don’t have en-suites all to themselves at expensive central London hotels. The Government are right to make savings by making up to 4 people share a room (depending on the size of the room). Clearly, if they’re genuinely refugees escaping persecution, you’d have thought they would welcome this generosity from the tax payer.
Again, I asked for timescales for the Novotel being brought back to its proper use. We don’t have enough hotel accommodation in Town, and it will have an economic impact. Actually imagine it will become more of an issue now that Ipswich Town have been promoted. Demand for hotel accommodation associated with next seasons games will increase. I will keep on pushing as hard as I can to get a successful outcome asap. It is an unacceptable state of affairs. Government have committed to ending hotel use, but this needs to be delivered soon.
No one who comes here illegally from safe countries such as France should be able to stay here.
So far, numbers of small boats have decreased 20% between January and May this year, this is the first reduction since the small boats crisis began. Alongside, a 90% reduction in Albanian arrivals. The Albanian agreement is delivering results.
Just Stop Oil Protests
Raised the promotion of Ipswich Town and Ipswich Wanderers today at Prime Ministers Questions. Also raised the need for the Metropolitan Police to move on immediately the eco protesters who block our key roads and cause huge disruption to the law abiding majority going about their business. We’ve passed the laws to give the Police the powers, they now need to use them!
I’ll take that as a yes re the PM coming to Portman Road for the Ipswich vs Southampton game.
Migration Effects on Public Services
When the Government of the day is considering what level net migration should be at. It shouldn’t just consider economic impact. It also needs to consider the impact on public services, housing and also social and cultural cohesion.
Net legal migration needs to be brought down to much more sustainable levels, and this is something I plan to campaign on hard.
Zero Tolerance Approach to Shop Lifting
Today I asked the Lord Chancellor whether he agrees with me that zero tolerance approach to shop lifting is needed and that those found guilty, particularly repeat offenders, should be properly punished. There needs to be a far stronger deterrent.
Sadly it’s become debilitating for many Town centre businesses.
We shouldn’t let anything get in the way of tackling. And this includes cultural sensitivities.
I’m pleased the Lord Chancellor agreed with me. I hope those responsible for sentencing in Suffolk were listening!
Sensible Migration Policy
I’ve spoken a lot about illegal immigration recently. With regard to legal immigration I want us to continue to be open to the brightest and the best, but the current level of net legal migration is, in my view, far too high.
Legal migration needs to be at sustainable levels. The current levels we are seeing are unsustainable. We’ve left the EU and ended freedom of movement so there is something that can be done about it. We need to do so soon!
This isn’t just a debate about economics. The dramatic social and cultural consequences of mass migration need to be considered also. As does the consequence in terms of housing demand and pressure on public services. Ultimately this isn’t a debate the British public should be shut out of.
I’ve stressed to the Government that its critical they bring legal migration down to levels the majority of the British people are comfortable with and they do so soon.
I have no idea why international students are able to bring over dependents and I’m also concerned that this route is being abused by some.