Henry Smith MP has spoken in the House of Commons (on Monday, 5th September) to call on the Home Office to take further action to address illegal English Channel small boat migrant crossings, which undermine national security and put those undertaking such crossings in danger.

Commenting after speaking in Parliament, Henry said;

“English Channel small boat migrant crossings are a potential UK security risk, place unsustainable pressures on housing and are expensive for hard-working taxpayers.

“In Parliament I encouraged and welcomed Government acting on a push-back policy and pursuing the Rwanda processing plan.

“Any system which sees such illegal and dangerous crossings undertaken needs reform, and on the day the new Leader of the Conservative Party was announced I was pleased to further highlight this issue in Parliament.

“I look forward to raising this subject with Liz Truss after she is appointed Prime Minister.”

Speaking in the House of Commons, Henry Smith MP asked Home Secretary;

“Tens of thousands of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats is a potential security risk, increasingly unsustainable in terms of accommodation and housing, and costing the taxpayer ever growing sums. May I seek an assurance that my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary’s Department will work with the Ministry of Defence on a push-back policy, to be implemented as soon as possible, and continue to pursue the Rwanda processing plan?”

The Minister for Illegal Migration, Simon Baynes, responded;

“The rise in dangerous Channel crossings is unacceptable, as my hon. Friend has said. Indeed, there is a push-back policy in place. Not only are these crossings an overt abuse of our immigration laws, but they risk the lives of vulnerable people who are being exploited by ruthless criminal gangs. Our new Nationality & Borders Act 2022 is breaking the business model of these evil criminals. We have introduced tougher sentences for those who facilitate illegal entry into the country, with 38 people already arrested and facing further action since the Act became law.”