Small boats bill set to become law after government sees off final challenges

The government’s controversial proposals to stop small boats crossing the English Channel are poised to become law after late-night challenges in the House of Lords were seen off.

Peers at Westminster were seeking a series of changes to the Illegal Migration Bill, which would bar anyone arriving in the UK through unauthorised means from claiming asylum.

But the Tory frontbench crushed each of the five attempts to alter the legislation, with at least one other vote ditched.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, who has been among the most strident critics of the Bill, also dropped his demand for a statement on tackling the refugee problem and human trafficking to the UK, after a similar proposal was rejected by MPs.

Mr Welby said he understood the need to end the small boat crossings, but added: ‘I fail to see how this [the Bill] does it and I have not heard anything to convince me.

‘But that is the view of the other place [the House of Commons]. I agree that in the end on most things except the most essential that this House must give way to the other place.’

As agreement between the two Houses has now been reached, the Illegal Migration Bill moves on to the final stage in the legislative process: royal assent.

The immigration reforms are a key part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s agenda as he tries to reduce the tens of thousands of people now arriving in the UK on small boats each year.

But opposition MPs and refugee groups have said the plans will not succeed in driving down the numbers, and will only make an already complex asylum system more costly and chaotic.

Home Office minister Lord Murray of Blidworth told peers it was costing taxpayers £6 million a day to provide accommodation for the arrivals.

He said: ‘With over 45,000 people making dangerous Channel crossings last year this is simply no longer sustainable.

‘If people know there is no way for them to stay in the UK, they won’t risk their lives and pay criminals thousands of pounds to arrive here illegally.

‘It is therefore only right that we stop the boats and break the business model of the criminal gangs exploiting vulnerable people, ultimately enabling the government to have greater capacity to provide a safe haven for those at risk of war and persecution.’

The House of Lords debate came as a barge set to house 500 migrants began its journey from Falmouth, Cornwall, to Portland Port in Dorset, a month behind schedule.

Asylum seekers are expected to board the Bibby Stockholm for the first time later this month.

Another pillar of the government’s immigration proposals, the Rwanda deportation scheme, was dealt a blow late last month when the Court of Appeal overturned a High Court ruling which deemed the east African nation a ‘safe third country’.

The legal challenge over the scheme continues.

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