Labour says government’s illegal migration bill will not work as it is not credible
Andrew Sparrow
Stephen Kinnock, a shadow immigration minister, was the second MP to speak in the illegal migration bill debate. He said Labour had its own plan to stop small boat crossings. The government’s plan would not work because it was not credible, he said. He went on:
The central premise of this bill is that it will act as a deterrent by banning the right to asylum and replacing it with blanket detention and removal policies.
But in order for a deterrent to be effective, it has to be credible.
And this bill fails the credibility test because there is nowhere near enough capacity to detain asylum seekers in the UK, there is no returns agreement with the EU, and the Rwandan government is only agreeing to take thousands at some unspecified future date.
So the boats will keep on coming, the backlog will keep on growing and the hotels will keep on filling.
All of which leaves the house in the somewhat surreal position of debating a bill that everyone knows is not really worth the paper it’s written on.
That’s all from me for tonight.
My colleague Nadeem Badshah is now taking over.
Key events
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A summary of today’s developments
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MPs vote to reject Labour New Clause 25
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MPs vote to reject Labour New Clause 24
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MPs vote to reject Lib Dem New Clause 6
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MPs reject SNP amendment
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MPs begin to vote on the bill.
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Public and Commercial Services union members to strike on 28 April
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Labour says government’s illegal migration bill will not work as it is not credible
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MPs resume debate on illegal migration bill
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Tory former policing minister warns Braverman that banning laughing gas could boost trade for drug dealers
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No 10 rejects criticism from homelessness charities of its plans to curb ‘intimidating’ begging
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People experiencing more anti-social behaviour than decade ago, but reporting it to police less, Home Office figures show
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Humza Yousaf first Muslim elected national leader in western democracy, says thinktank
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Yousaf says political obstacles at Westminster will disappear when there is ‘consistent, majority support for independence’
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Yousaf says he wants to put independence drive ‘into fifth gear’
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Yousaf says he wants SNP to be ‘as big a tent as possible’
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SNP leadership election results in full
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Humza Yousaf elected new SNP leader, and prospective next Scottish first minster
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Sunak’s antisocial behaviour action plan ‘too weak, too little and too late’, says Labour
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No 10 says no need to change second job rules for MPs after ‘£10,000 per day’ Hancock/Kwarteng sting revelations
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No 10 dismisses reports government about to include safe route plan for up to 20,000 refugees in illegal migration bill
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‘Significant gap’ between UK’s infrastructure needs and what government delivering, report says
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Minister defends laughing gas ban saying there is ‘some emerging evidence’ it causes physical harm
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Voting closes in SNP leadership contest
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Sunak criticised during public Q&A as voters express scepticism about antisocial behaviour crackdown
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Sunak’s illegal migration bill would add to ‘significant regression’ of rights of refugees, says Council of Europe
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Sunak and Braverman heckled on walkabout in Essex
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Ministers expected to toughen illegal migration bill to placate Tory rebels
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Labour says Rishi Sunak’s antisocial behaviour plan is a weaker version of its own policy
A summary of today’s developments
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The government survived the threat of a Tory rebellion during a five-hour debate on the illegal migration bill. Four amendments were rejected after a vote by MPs. These were regarding allowing individuals seeking asylum who claim to be victim of crime, human trafficking or deprived of their human rights to remain in the UK during their asylum process, introducing a safe passage pilot scheme, a provision for unaccompanied children asylum seekers coming from the EU to be allowed into the UK for the purposes of family reunion and the government creating reciprocal co-operation deals with the EU Member States regarding asylum seeker and illegal migration issues.
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Stephen Kinnock, a shadow immigration minister, said Labour had its own plan to stop small boat crossings. The government’s plan would not work because it was not credible, he said.
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Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union members will be on strike throughout April, culminating with another all-out strike by 133,000 civil and public servants on 28 April. It means civil and public servants will be taking strike action from today until the end of April, with workers in the Passport Office on strike for five weeks until 6 May. Members working for Ofgem in Canary Wharf and Glasgow today announced six days’ strike action from April 10-14 and on 17 April.
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During the statement on the antisocial behaviour action plan Kit Malthouse, the former policing minister, expressed concern that banning laughing gas could lead to supply being taken over by drug dealers.
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As part of the anti-social behaviour action plan, the government will make organising begging networks an offence. It will also give the police and local authorities powers to stop people engaged in “intimidating” begging, “including obstructing shop doorways and begging by cash points”. Charities that help the homeless have criticised these plans.
And that brings day one of the debate to a conclusion.
MPs vote to reject Labour New Clause 25
The ayes voted 196, the noes voted 306. The majority is 110.
MPs are now voting on the addition of Labour New Clause 25.
The amendment would require the government to create reciprocal co-operation deals with the EU Member States regarding asylum seeker and illegal migration issues.
MPs vote to reject Labour New Clause 24
The ayes 248 voted, the noes 301 voted. The majority is 53.
MPs are now voting on the addition of Labour New Clause 24 which would make provision for unaccompanied children asylum seekers coming from the EU to be allowed into the UK for the purposes of family reunion.
MPs vote to reject Lib Dem New Clause 6
On the division on the addition of Lib Dem New Clause 6, the ayes voted 67, noes 307.
MPs have divided to vote on Lib Dem New Clause 6 which would require the Home Office to establish a humanitarian travel permit scheme.
The result is expected at around 10.30pm.
MPs are now voting on Lib Dem New Clause 6 which relates to a safe passage pilot scheme.
MPs reject SNP amendment
On the vote on amendment 76 of the bill, ayes voted 244, noes 308.
MPs begin to vote on the bill.
MPs are voting on the SNP amendment 76.
The amendment allows individuals seeking asylum who claim to be victim of crime, human trafficking or deprived of their human rights to remain in the UK during their asylum process.
Mary Kelly Foy, Labour MP for the City of Durham, believes the legislation is an “anti-refugee” bill and has described it as “inhumane”.
