Anti-immigrant & Small Boats

In respect of the small boat crossings, the primary problem with our immigration system is that for the past decade, it has been managed by politicians more interested in chasing headlines than in producing a firm and efficient system. The way it has been set up means that it is now almost impossible for refugees or asylum seekers to arrive here legally, and to predetermine them all as “illegal” (as the narrative does) is very misleading.

The Conservatives ran in the last election under the slogan “Stop the Boats”, but there was no small boat crossing problem until they came to power. They “Started the Boats”.

They have also spent far more money (£4.2 billion in their last year in government) accommodating and finding the backlog of migrant, refugee and asylum applications than any government. It would be far better in my view if migrants were free to work and pay taxes here and contribute to our economy rather than be a drain on our resources. They would prefer this too. I’m sure we agree we must stop these crossings by preventing migrants from becoming prey to the people smugglers.

The ill-conceived Illegal Migration Act 2023 stripped vital protections for those fleeing persecution and imposed unrealistic policies that only encouraged illegal crossings. Meanwhile, the Conservatives’ barriers to international cooperation hindered efforts to combat cross-border smuggling, and their inefficiency in processing asylum claims left those without a legitimate right to stay lingering in limbo instead of being swiftly returned.

It’s clear that urgent change is needed, and the Labour government must act decisively to address this crisis.

My Liberal Democrat Parliamentary colleagues and I are committed to preventing the criminal gangs from profiting from human misery by creating a system which supports, rather than hinders, the genuine asylum seekers. This includes re-establishing safe legal routes by working internationally; establishing a single enforcement body to tackle modern slavery in the UK—cutting off the gangs’ financial lifeline – and working closely with Europol and French authorities to dismantle their networks.

Equally, robust deterrents are needed to discourage those who are not genuine refugees from attempting these crossings. Instead of relying on ineffective deterrents like those introduced by the Illegal Migration Act 2023, there must be a focus on an efficient asylum system—one that delivers swift, fair decisions and ensures those without a right to stay are promptly returned.

I will continue to push the government to clear the asylum backlog and implement reforms that are both effective and humane.