Hove MP Peter Kyle slams 'stop the boats' bill as 'gimmick'

Peter Kyle, shadow Northern Ireland secretary, criticised the government’s proposal to “stop the boats” by removing refugees entering the UK on small boats and block them from returning.

The MP for Hove said the legislation does not offer a serious plan to tackle the issue of migrant crossings.

He said: “This bill isn’t a solution - it’s a gimmick which ramps up the rhetoric on refugees and picks a fight simply so they have someone else to blame when it all goes wrong again.

“If the government was serious, it would be working internationally to get a proper new agreement in place with France and other European countries - not risk breaching international commitments as this bill does.”

Mr Kyle said Labour would crack down on criminal smuggler gangs by creating a new cross-border police unit and entering into a new agreement with France and other nations on family reunions and returns.

The party would also reform legal routes for refugees to stop people from being exploited, he said.

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The government’s plan has also been condemned by the United Nations’ refugee agency, which said the Illegal Migration Bill amounts to an “asylum ban” which would prevent people fleeing war and persecution from seeking refuge in the UK.

EU home affairs commissioner Ylva Johansson also expressed concerns the bill would violate international law.

However, Home Secretary Suella Braverman has said the government would not be deflected from measures to tackle migrant boat crossings.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has defended the government's plans to tackle Channel crossings by refugees (Image: PA)

Speaking on ITV’s Peston show, she said: “We believe our measures to be lawful, proper, necessary, compassionate and the fair thing to do, and that’s why we’re moving forward with them.”

Addressing MPs earlier this week, Ms Braverman said not tackling the “waves of illegal immigrants breaching our border” would “betray” voters.

“They will not stop coming here until the world knows that if you enter Britain illegally, you will be detained and swiftly removed,” she said.