Suella Braverman insists new migrant plan to stop small boats does ‘NOT break’ law and says smugglers must be ‘smashed’

BANNING small boat migrants from claiming asylum in Britain IS legal, Suella Braverman insisted today.

The Home Secretary slammed accusations from left wing campaigners that the new Illegal Migration Bill clashes with international law.

AP

Suella Braverman today insisted the government’s new stop the boats bill DOES comply with international law[/caption]

And she declared the government’s major migration plan will finally “smash” evil smuggling gangs that trade in “selling lies”.

A defiant Ms Braverman told Sky News: “We’re not breaking the law and no Government representative has said that we’re breaking the law.

“In fact, we’ve made it very clear that we believe we’re in compliance with all of our international obligations, for example the Refugee Convention, the ECHR and other conventions to which we are subject.”

Ms Braverman claimed the bill honours all of the UK’s international obligations – despite yesterday admitting there’s a high chance it won’t comply with the European Convention on Human Rights.

She added the law is the only way Britain can take the fight to dangerous people smugglers.

“They are well resourced and they are exploiting people,” she said.

“They are encouraging people to pay sometimes tens of thousands of pounds in the vain hope that they’re going to travel here in a boat and get a life in the UK.

“That must be smashed. We are doing extensive work with the National Crime Agency to smash these gangs.”

Rishi Sunak threw down the gauntlet to left-wing lawyers and anti-borders campaigners last night insisting he’s “up for the fight”.

As the pro-migration “blob” plotted to torpedo his bill in the courts, the PM insisted “we will win”.

And he vowed to do “whatever is necessary” to end the Channel crisis with illegal arrivals detained for 28 days before being deported.

Mr Sunak insisted Britain will use “every tool at our disposal”, adding his new law “is tough but it is necessary and it is fair” and will end “spurious human rights claims” clogging up the system.

Last night the UN refugee agency said it’s “profoundly concerned” about the Bill.

And the Equalities and Human Rights Commission said they were “concerned that the legislation risks breaching the UK’s legal obligations under the Refugee Convention and ECHR.”

Standing her ground, Ms Braverman told the BBC: “The basic and incontrovertible point that what the government is putting forward we believe we are compliant with our legal obligations.

“It’s necessary to take these measures – which are fair, proportionate and necessary – because we need to take urgent action to stop illegal migration, to stop the boats.”