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The government has quelled a Tory rebellion against the Illegal Immigration Bill by agreeing to talks with those willing to strengthen the controversial proposals. Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said he would "engage closely" with his Conservative colleagues to ensure the final bill "meets the demands of all on our side of the House." A group of right-wing Conservative MPs had said it was not going far enough, with some calling on ministers to withdraw the UK from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to tighten border controls and avoid a crackdown in courts.
The bill was carefully drafted in collaboration with some of the best legal minds.
The legislation aims to detain people seeking asylum in the UK if they arrive by unauthorized means, including crossing the Channel in small boats.
This could result in asylum seekers being held without bail or judicial review for 28 days before being returned to their country of origin or to a “safe third country” such as Rwanda.
The bill has been denounced by the UN refugee agency as an effective "asylum ban" and has also drawn objections from groups within the Conservative Party.
Other members of the liberal wing want Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to commit to establishing safe routes for asylum seekers to reach Britain.
Jenrick assured MPs that he would speak to them about their concerns that the human rights law could interfere with legislation.
S'exprimant lors de l'étape du comité du projet de loi, il a declaré aux Communes: «Je tiens certainment à leur donner l'engagement de dialogueuer avec eux et d'autres collègues intéressés par ces points avant l'étape du rapport of the bill.
“We are united in our determination that this bill is strong, that it can survive the kind of flagrant and vexatious legal challenges we have seen in the past, and that it will allow us to get the job done. return illegal immigrants to safe third countries such as Rwanda.
“I would add that the bill has been carefully drafted in collaboration with some of the best legal minds and we believe it allows us to do the job while respecting our obligations under international law.
"But we will work closely with our colleagues and make sure the final bill meets the demands of everyone on our side of the House."
Conservative MP Sir Bill Cash, chairman of the European review panel, withdrew his amendment in response to the minister's assurances.
His proposal was intended to ensure that the only way to avoid a person's deportation was through a successful suspensive application.
Jenrick also vowed to end the second Conservative rebellion in order to establish safe and legal new immigration pathways.
Responding to calls from former Conservative cabinet minister Tim Loughton, he said: “We listened very carefully to your arguments. As the Prime Minister said, it is precisely because we want to help genuine refugees that we must take full control of our borders.
“I can commit to engaging with him and other colleagues ahead of the report stage to establish safe and legal routes, if necessary, proposing new amendments to ensure there are new routes in place, more systems in place and speeding up the point at which they become operational, with the intention of opening them next year.
"Furthermore, I can confirm that we will expedite the process of initiating consultations with local authorities on safe and legal routes at the same time as the bill enters into force. I hope that will satisfy you."
Mr Loughton appeared to nod to the Minister after reassurances.
PA files
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