Following the announcement of a UK-France deal to address English Channel small boat crossings, Henry Smith MP has questioned the Home Secretary in Parliament (on Monday, 14th November) to call for the Government to go further in halting these illegal and dangerous journeys.

Commenting after speaking in Parliament, Henry said;

“This latest UK-France commitment to work together is a welcome step in the right direction, which will see the number of officers in northern France increase by some 40 per cent in the months ahead.

“We can take lessons from European states from Germany to Sweden and Italy to Poland who are putting in robust measures to secure their respective countries.

“These small boat crossings not only undermine national security, but they put those undertaking such crossings in danger, and further fuel the evil people smugglers who profit from people’s misery as they trade in human lives.”

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

“I recognise the agreement reached this morning with the French to stop illegal migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, but what else will my right hon. Friend do to take lessons from other European countries? Germany and Sweden, for example, do not recognise refugee applications from Albania. Countries such as Italy and Poland are physically stopping people from crossing their border illegally. What more will be done to tackle this problem?”

The Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, responded;

“My hon. Friend is right that there is a real need for a multi-pronged approach. It is not quite right that countries like Germany or Sweden do not accept asylum applications; rather, they may have higher burdens of proof or thresholds that need to be met. We need to change some of the regimes that govern asylum and some of the rights being claimed, in a large number of cases, unmeritoriously. We will make an announcement on the measures that we are taking in due course.”