Critics of the Rwanda migrant plan have mislead the public and delayed a serious response to a life-threatening problem
IT’S dreadful to see lives being put at risk as evil people-smuggling gangs cram people on to small boats and dinghies.
Last week’s deaths in the Channel were a stark reminder of why we need to put a stop to these illegal and dangerous crossings and take robust action to break the business model of evil criminals, end the abuse of our asylum system and put an end to people being able to pay their way to jump the queue.
Access to asylum should be based on need and the safe routes we have established, rather than the ability to pay.
That’s why, earlier this year when I was Home Secretary, I signed the world-leading Economic and Migration Partnership with our friends in Rwanda, East Africa, to provide a long-term solution to tackle global migration challenges.
At the time, the usual left-wing activists, lawyers and MPs talked down this partnership and they have sought to do everything they can to block it.
We’ve seen endless legal challenges and the scandalous decision made in secret by an unaccountable judge in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg to block the first flights from taking off.
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But yesterday’s High Court decision confirmed the partnership was lawful and also that it was consistent with the Refugee Convention and Human Rights Act.
We made sure the partnership agreement was robust when we drafted it and those who opposed it by talking down Rwanda, smearing the policy and misleading the public, have been proven wrong.
All they have done is delay the implementation of a vital measure to tackle this serious problem.
They continue to criticise those of us committed to facing this challenge and I’m sure we will see more legal challenges.
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But the consequences of their actions are to put more lives at risk and give succour to the evil criminals who facilitate this trade in human misery.
Those who enter the UK illegally are also at risk of being exploited, which is another reason why we need to act.
Critics of our approach have never offered any solutions, just attacks.
When I signed the partnership I knew we would need to be prepared for legal challenges and I would like to thank the Government’s legal team for strongly defending the position
I also put in place the resources so the partnership could be implemented, and the Government must now move at pace to ensure asylum claims start being processed in Rwanda, as the High Court has confirmed we can do.
Ministers must also take action to stop the European Court of Human Rights meddling in our border controls and be firmer with the EU to stop the waves of illegal migrants crossing the Continent to attempt to cross the Channel.
While the partnership with Rwanda will help us tackle illegal and dangerous crossings, this is a complex issue and there is no single solution.
That is why I also coordinated international efforts to dismantle criminal gangs, leading to arrests in the UK and across Europe.
Assets have been seized and prosecutions have taken place.
The Nationality and Borders Act I took through Parliament also introduced tougher sentences, including life in jail, for people smugglers.
And because we are a compassionate and caring country, I set up safe routes for those in genuine need so they do not need to put their lives in the hands of criminals.
Access to our asylum system must be based on need, rather than ability to pay criminal gangs.
The public and Sun readers are understandably fed up with our asylum system being abused, dangerous and illegal crossings into our country and the left-wing activists.
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By standing firm on our new Rwanda partnership — which the High Court has confirmed is lawful — we can now use another important measure to protect our borders and save lives.
I know that is what Sun readers want to see happen and what the Government must now do.
