Norfolk MP 'hugely in favour' of plans to tackle illegal migration
The proposals mean anyone who's entered the country illegally will be banned from claiming British citizenship in future
Last updated 9th Mar 2023
A Norfolk MP says the Government's plans to tackle illegal migration don't break international law and will be put in place.
The proposals mean anyone who's entered the country illegal will be removed within 28 days- and banned from claiming British citizenship in future.
"We cannot deal with people entering illegally"
Duncan Baker represents North Norfolk.
He says action is needed now:
"We're seeing a huge amount of people in hotel rooms and the cost is absolutely enormous, at 5 or 6 million pounds a day, and that creates big pressures on our public services, as well.
"We live on a relatively small island nation which is high in population anyhow and we cannot deal with people entering illegally.
"The vast majority of people in this country do want to see us put a brake on people entering the country illegally.
"They want to make sure the criminal gangs that make millions out of human misery by putting people in these small boats and sending them across the channel aren't profiteering from this."
"This will be compliant with international law"
"We really have had to strain every aspect of law-making to be able to put together a plan now to act as a strong deterrent to stop people entering the country illegally.
"An awful lot of lawyers have tested it internally- and we think this will be compliant with international law".
"The ECHR European Court of Human Rights challenged it and it's been deemed legal. It's been granted an appeal in the High courts and I think it has been granted legal, and if granted legal we will be able to move the plan forwards.
"I think we are doing this the right way, we are not breaking laws as we are allowing the legal process to play out".
"Profoundly concerned"
The UN's refugee agency, the UNHCR, said it was "profoundly concerned" by the Bill and urged Parliament to reject it. If passed, it will amount to an "asylum ban", the group said.
Labour described the policy as a "con" that was no more likely to succeed than the Conservative's previous efforts.