Illegal Migration Bill
Within the next few days the Illegal Migration Bill will be securing Royal assent, and in doing so will become the law of the land.
All in all, I voted against 25 House of Lords amendments over the past couple of weeks. The vast majority of these amendments appeared benign, and well intentioned, but their effect would have been to severely undermine the Illegal Migration Bill and make it far less effective.
With regard to the House of Lords amendments on this vital Bill, there has been far more heat than light. We know what aspects they are against but when it comes to their own alternatives, to this workable plan for tackling dangerous small boat crossings, their amendments brought nothing but vagaries and platitudes. It was very telling that Lord Kenneth Clarke, the former very liberal Conservative Chancellor, even came out in support of the Rwanda policy, saying that the House of Lords had failed to come up with any alternative.
It’s very easy to moralise on this issue without engaging properly in its deep complexities. It’s oh so very tempting. Sadly, there have been too many who have fallen into this trap whilst coming up with no practical workable alternatives to the Illegal Migration Bill and the Rwanda plan themselves. In essence and by default, these individuals are supporters of the status quo; a status quo where we continue to see tens of thousands of people every year entering our country via dangerous small boat crossings. Breaking our asylum system and making it impossible to come up with a sensible compassionate ordered approach.
Anyway, after weeks of ‘ping pong’ the House of Lords finally bowed to the democratic supremacy of the House of Commons and the significant majorities the Bill received in the lower house.
I spoke last week in the debate. Just before we voted against 18 of the House of Lords amendments (Please watch below). Though a major step forward, to be really effective we need the Rwanda scheme to be rolled out and for that, we await the judgement of the Supreme Court later this year.
The Illegal Migration Bill places a legal obligation on the Government to detain and deport all those who illegally enter our country from other safe European countries such as France (where they failed to apply for asylum). As I’ve said countless times before, this situation is intolerable and is causing major issues for the taxpayer and local communities. I can’t see a way of us tackling this without a major deterrent, something that this Bill and the Rwanda scheme provide.
The Labour Party have time and time again, consistently and repeatedly, voted against all measures to help our country secure its borders and tackle illegal migration.
There is little point adding on here how frustrated and angry you are about this. You all know I feel completely the same way. I continue to do everything I can as an individual MP to tackle this issue. I continue to be hopeful that we will eventually “Stop the boats”, it’s just so frustrating how long it is taking. Certainly, I have become personally open to other radical options.
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.
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.
NOVOTEL AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. FULL STATEMENT
I’ve spoken a lot recently about illegal immigration. There have been a lot of pieces in the media summarising my views and I’ve posted a lot on my Facebook page that you may have seen. However, in one place I wanted to pull together all of my views so you can fully understand them. I also think it’s fair enough to put the spotlight on my Labour opponent.
With regard to the use of the Novotel by the Home Office to accommodate illegal immigrants I’ve been extremely clear in my views. I’ve done everything within my power to oppose it.
Before it went public I attended a number of meetings with Home Office officials where I was very passionate in opposing it. I also held a special debate (Westminster Hall debate) where I went into detail in front of the Immigration Minister about all the different ways in which this was bad for our Town. Naturally, I was pleased only a few days ago to hear that we may only be weeks away from the Government bringing forward to relocate those in hotels to disused army barracks and even ferries.
Last weekend there was a protest outside the Novotel opposing its use by the Home Office. I have no idea who was there. I spoke to Suffolk Police before the protest. And I spoke to them after. They informed me the organiser wasn’t connected to the “far right”, and they said after the protest that there was no confirmation the “far right” were present at the protest. Due to other protests around the country that had got out of hand I made sure I was in frequent contact with the Police.
There was a counter protest that took place at the same time. Those who were at this protest have made a number of allegations about the far right being present at the main protest against the use of the Novotel but I’m going off the reports I get from the Police, not them.
I’m not entirely sure what these protestors were looking to achieve or why they were there. I can only assume they were there because they supported the Novotel being used by those who have come here illegally from France (having refused to claim asylum in France and other safe European countries). Accommodated at the hotel at the taxpayer’s expense. There were a number of posters opposing all national borders.
Interestingly a number of Ipswich Labour councillors were present. The Labour MP candidate was also present. I found this interesting bearing in mind that the Labour leader of the Council David Ellesmere had previously opposed the use of the Novotel.
My Labour opponent Jack Abbott since he was selected has been virtually silent on the issue of the small boat crossings and the Novotel. That isn’t to say he doesn’t have a past on the matter. Late last year a national newspaper drew attention to a number of visits Jack had made to the immigration camps in northern France. The places where people head off from to illegally enter the UK. I have no idea why he was there and it was news to me. Some have suggested that he was there actively encouraging the small boat crossings and for people to illegally enter our country. I have no evidence that this was the case.
That was many years ago though in his defence and he’s been silent ever since from what I can see. So I must confess to be pretty shocked that he decided to attend the counter protest last weekend. Bearing in mind most peoples views in Ipswich I think it was distinctively unwise. Again, his motives for being there we can’t be certain about. But I can’t blame people when they see him with a megaphone next to people calling for the end of all borders to come to the conclusion that he wants a total free for all when it comes to our borders and asylum system.
Either way, I wish he’d just be honest about his inner most views and beliefs. He owes that to his potential constituents.
On Saturday Ipswich Labour launched an attack on me for not believing them that the far right played a key role at the anti Novotel protest the other weekend. I again responded that I was simply going off the reports the Police had given me.
For me and thousands of others there is a sneaking suspicion that actually Ipswich Labour and maybe even the Labour MP candidate view anyone who holds the sorts of views I do on illegal migration and the small boats issue as being “far right”. It’s a classic tactic of the left to smear and demonise people who hold my views as being “far right” and “fascist”. They seek to cower us so we’re afraid to speak out. That will never be the case with me. I’ve sought my constituents views extensively on this issue and I’m extremely confident that not all, but the majority agree with my views and strongly oppose the use of the Novotel by those who have illegally entered our country from France.
The values divide between Ipswich Labour and many of their traditional supporters could not be clearer. It feels a bit like Brexit all over again. Let’s not forget my predecessor, Sandy Martin. Despite the fact that Ipswich voted strongly to leave the EU he thought he knew better and did everything within his power to overturn the referendum result. This almost feels like a re-run.
At a national level: Labour have voted against every single measure to tackle illegal immigration and control our borders. They would bring in uncapped “safe and legal routes” and give everyone who arrives here illegally by small boat the green light to stay.
This week the Government’s Illegal Immigration Bill will be coming back to Parliament. The Prime Minister deserves great credit for bringing forward such a bill. He’s right. If you enter our country illegally under no circumstances, should you be able to stay. You should be detained, deported and banned from ever being able to enter our country again. I know this all sounds a bit draconian but what’s the alternative? We need a powerful deterrent.
Otherwise this appalling situation where we have over 40,000 mainly men arriving here illegally every year through unsafe crossings empowering people smugglers will simply get worse and worse. The numbers will continue to escalate and its not an exaggeration to say we’ll be overwhelmed.
A number of amendments are being tabled to this Bill and I’m keeping an open mind. We can’t afford any more false dawns. We can’t have landmark Government’s policies such as a Rwanda scheme gummed up in the Courts for months on end. We need delivery. I completely understand why so many of my constituents are so frustrated by this.
There’re a couple of ironies here. Firstly, Labour supporters continuously accuse us Conservatives as being somehow xenophobic. This is despite the fact that the Home Secretary introducing the Illegal Immigration Bill and the Prime Minister both come from immigrant backgrounds. They key thing is, their families came here legally, in the correct way, and they have made positive contributions to our country. They haven’t jumped the queue and sought to break our immigration laws. Like many of those who have came from France have. Let’s not forget, a great many of them come from countries such as Albania that are 100% safe!
The other is the suggestion that I’m “anti-refugee”. This is despite the fact that the weekend my opponent was stood outside the Novotel I was at the world largest refugee camp, the Rohingya refugee camp. This has become one of my key interests. I’ve made three separate visits to the camp since becoming an MP. The majority of these refugees are women and children. They have fled directly from their homeland. For their lives! Many of the women I met have been raped. The majority have lost families and friends to butchery at the hands of their tormentors. When I asked them what their dream is? They say simply they want to return home in safety.
There is a simple reality here. There’re 100’s millions of people across the country who would like to be able to claim asylum in our country and could conceivable secure refugee status. Therefore its vital in my view that we introduce a cap. That cap should be driven by compassion and we must take our fair share but there must be a cap. If we believe there should be a cap then clearly we must talk about how we prioritise. And with that comes to the key point about the Rohingya. For every single man that illegally enters our country from France, often from a safe origin country, that is able to stay here, realistically, it limits our ability to accommodate people such as the Rohingya, who really are in the most desperate circumstances. They don’t have the ability to claim asylum in any safe country, they don’t have the ability to return home.
The truth of the matter is therefore this. I am pro genuine refugees. Very much so. By clamping down in illegal immigration we can finally introduce a compassionate but controlled asylum system. One that truly prioritises the world’s most needy and vulnerable but also one that ensures we don’t get overwhelmed. I’m confident that in time we’ll get that with the Conservative Party. With the Labour Party we’ll get a far worse version of the status quo!
Immigration Survey
In June 2016, Ipswich voted overwhelmingly to leave the EU. One of the biggest advantages of leaving the EU is the ability for the UK to control our borders again – I am committed to upholding this.
By contrast, the Labour Party – dominated by the London elite – tried to block Brexit and are now frustrating all attempts to control immigration.
As your MP, I have strongly opposed the use of the Novotel Hotel to house asylum seekers. I led a special debate in Parliament and have raised this issue every week in Parliament since the news broke. I’m appalled at the way in which some of my constituents have been treated by their employer, NOVOTEL. I’m also very worried about the impact this is having on the local economy.
Ipswich has a proud record of welcoming genuine refugees from around the world who are fleeing persecution. The Homes for Ukraine scheme has been a particularly inspirational example of this. We should be proud of being such a welcoming Town, but what’s going on at the Novotel is wrong on many different levels. We need to be tough but fair in distinguishing between those who are genuinely fleeing persecution and those who have chosen a route to illegally enter our country from another safe European country. I am committed to putting a stop to this.
The PM has announced new plans to use cheaper accommodation sites, so we can move migrants out of expensive hotels, saving the taxpayer money. We will identify a range of alternative sites such as disused holiday parks, former student halls and surplus military land, working with local authorities to ensure everyone takes their fair share.
Labour have bitterly opposed everything I’ve been looking to achieve on this issue. Labour’s London based leader has ordered Labour MPs to consistently vote against the Government’s plans to control immigration. Whether that would be through opposing the Rwanda scheme, voting against the Nationality and Borders Act, or defending freedom of movement at all costs throughout his leadership campaign. Even locally, the Labour candidate has never supported any attempt to tackle illegal immigration and instead has made multiple trips to the migrant camp in Calais. It’s clear that Labour don’t want to control immigration.
I have been one of the most vocal MPs in Parliament on the issue of tackling illegal immigration. My record speaks for itself. We cannot go back to a policy of low-wage, low-skilled uncontrolled immigration. That’s why, I would love to hear your views about immigration.
Rwanda policy
So the good news this week was that the High Court said the Rwanda policy was lawful. The frustrating news is the first flights still haven’t taken off!
I personally find it unbelievable that one judge connected to the European Convention of Human Rights can, at the eleventh hour, delay the whole thing by about 6 months. This is about how long it’s taken the High Court to stick by its original decision.
Sadly, there are further opportunities for those who are deeply opposed to us controlling our own borders to try and throw further spanners in the wheels.
You will see the question I asked the Home Secretary earlier this week. My frustration is clear and I share it with so many of my constituents.
I really hope the legal changes the PM is planning early next year will address all these issues. Ultimately, it should be for our own sovereign Parliament to pass laws on this, and frankly everything should be on the table in my view.
Part of our approach to tackling illegal immigration must involve the deportation of those who have decided to come here illegally to safe third countries such as Rwanda, if it isn’t safe for them to return to their home country.
The Prime Minister made clear last week that in the new year he will pass laws to make it impossible for those who come here illegally to be able to stay here. This is absolutely critical, and I will continue to push as hard as I can.
BBC Radio Suffolk today discussing the Novotel
On BBC Radio Suffolk today discussing the Novotel situation. You can listen to my full interview here.
I’m continuing to push for a total rethink to how the Home Office chooses to locate these illegal migrants. Hotels like the Novotel are completely the wrong place. Ipswich particularly is a visitor economy, and taking this hotel out of commission sets back local businesses and has put Ipswich residents out of their jobs.
We can be generous to genuine refugees, but people illegally entering from safe European countries should not be allowed to stay and should absolutely not be housed in hotels at the taxpayer’s expense.
Novotel Debate
Had my debate on the Novotel today. The Court case is also being held today on whether or not the temporary injunction blocking the use of Ipswich hotels for asylum seekers will be upheld. Fingers crossed.
I honestly don’t know what the short-term outcome of all of this will be but I gave my speech this morning some real welly. I will continue to be very outspoken on this issue. Both on the use of the Novotel and also the issue of illegal immigration more broadly.
I’m very concerned at the way in which some of my constituents who were employees at the Novotel have been treated. I’m also very concerned about the impact of the Novotel being used for this purpose on the local economy.
I will always put the interests of my constituents first. Myself and my office are not there to support those who have decided to enter our country illegally from another safe European country.
Ipswich has a proud record of welcoming genuine refugees from around the world who are fleeing persecution. We should be proud of this. We’re a welcoming Town but what’s going on at the Novotel is wrong on many different levels.
The Minister in response to my speech has agreed to look again at the matter. He also said the Government will be escalating efforts to curb the crossings. Let’s see. I will continue to work with colleagues to hold the Government’s feet to the fire on this issue.
Novotel Debate
Had my debate on the Novotel today. The Court case is also being held today on whether or not the temporary injunction blocking the use of Ipswich hotels for asylum seekers will be upheld. Fingers crossed.
I honestly don’t know what the short-term outcome of all of this will be but I gave my speech this morning some real welly. I will continue to be very outspoken on this issue. Both on the use of the Novotel and also the issue of illegal immigration more broadly.
I’m very concerned at the way in which some of my constituents who were employees at the Novotel have been treated. I’m also very concerned about the impact of the Novotel being used for this purpose on the local economy.
I will always put the interests of my constituents first. Myself and my office are not there to support those who have decided to enter our country illegally from another safe European country.
Ipswich has a proud record of welcoming genuine refugees from around the world who are fleeing persecution. We should be proud of this. We’re a welcoming Town but what’s going on at the Novotel is wrong on many different levels.
The Minister in response to my speech has agreed to look again at the matter. He also said the Government will be escalating efforts to curb the crossings. Let’s see. I will continue to work with colleagues to hold the Government’s feet to the fire on this issue.
