Channel migrants are ‘criminals’, says Suella Braverman
Migrants who arrive in the UK on small boats are "criminals", Suella Braverman said this morning as the Government presses ahead with its crackdown on Channel crossings.
Robert Jenrick, the immigration minister, said in a speech yesterday that "those crossing tend to have completely different lifestyles and values to those in the UK".
Ms Braverman, the Home Secretary, was asked this morning what Mr Jenrick had meant and she told Sky News: "People who are coming here illegally are breaking our laws. They are criminals and they don’t have a right to be here.
"That is at odds with our values of upholding the rule of law, generosity and helping…"
The comments came as the Government’s Illegal Migration Bill returns to the House of Commons this afternoon when it is expected to clear its final hurdles before heading to the House of Lords for further scrutiny.
Ministers have proposed a number of changes to toughen up the draft legislation, including powers to allow the Government to ignore rulings by European judges which block migrant removal flights.