A prominent human rights solicitor has challenged the government's recently implemented immigration detention strategy, asserting that it represents no meaningful departure from previous approaches.
Speaking to GB News, David Haigh expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of the new measures and said it is "utterly absurd".
"I think the positive thing is they're doing something, but I really don't see how this is going to work or that there's any real changes," he stated.
PA / GB News
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The lawyer's primary concern centres on what he perceives as a superficial alteration to existing procedures.
According to Haigh, the fundamental difference amounts to relocating migrants to detention facilities rather than accommodating them in hotels, whilst the underlying legal framework remains unchanged.
Haigh outlined the standard procedure for initiating an asylum application, explaining that arrivals must approach a border official and declare their intention to seek asylum. He suggested that smugglers typically brief their clients on this process before they arrive.
"So what we know is that some of the people that have come across since the new policy was in place have been detained," he explained. The solicitor emphasised that without legislative amendments, the Government cannot alter the established asylum procedures.
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He argued that the policy will encounter numerous legal obstacles, as the fundamental process remains identical despite the change in accommodation arrangements.
The solicitor raised pointed questions about the government's approach, given the legal expertise within its ranks. He noted that both the Prime Minister and Lord Hermer possess extensive backgrounds in human rights law.
"They should know the problems their policy will face as they put it in place, what problems it will place obviously in our courts and obviously in the UK, they should know them very well, better than perhaps the Tories did," Haigh observed.
Despite this expertise, he questioned why fundamental legal obstacles remain unaddressed. The UK's continued membership of the European Convention on Human Rights and retention of the Human Rights Act mean the same legal constraints persist.
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Haigh criticised the Government's decision to keep deportation statistics confidential, describing the choice as "odd" and counterproductive.
He suggested this secrecy might stem from concerns about negative media coverage if removal rates prove minimal.
"I would rather know the facts. If it's only a few, let's know that and then let's look at other things," he stated. The solicitor revealed that criminal networks are already adapting to the new measures, with smuggling gangs now providing complimentary return journeys for those detained.
He attributed this bold offer to the minimal likelihood of deportation, arguing that transparency about removal figures would better serve public understanding of the policy's effectiveness.