A new Border security Bill will deliver on Sir Keir Starmer’s pledge to “reduce” illegal migration using counter terror style powers, with results of this year, Yvette Cooper has told GBNews.
However, the Home Secretary will not say how much illegal migration will come down, saying targets as well as the Conservatives’ Rwanda plan to deter new arrivals, are “gimmicks”.
Cooper outlined plans to make endangering another life during a sea crossing to the UK a new offence carrying a five-year jail term under the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill introduced to Parliament on Thursday.
Under the plans people selling and handling boat parts suspected of being used in migrant Channel crossings could face up to 14 years in prison under new laws trying to crack down on people smugglers.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper
GB NEWS
The new law formally repeals the Conservatives’ Rwanda plan, and axes large parts of the Illegal Migration Act which said that small boat arrivals should not have asylum claims considered.
Asked by GB News about whether he would set by how much her plans will cut migration or whether a Rwanda-type deterrent plan will work, Cooper said: “We can’t just keep doing any more of the gimmicks.
“It’s got to be this really serious law enforcement, and we’ve got to treat the border security in the same way that we treat issues of security against terror threats.
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An image of Channel crossing migrants
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“And that’s why we’re introducing counter terror style powers to give law enforcement much stronger powers to act early.”
The Home Secretary added: “If we are going to strengthen border security and prevent lives being lost, we have to have stronger law enforcement powers to go after the dangerous gangs.”
Cooper also defended Home Office officials giving millions of pounds of shoes, clothes and phones to migrants when they arrive in UK saying “we have to save lives“.
Christopher Hope
GB NEWS
The Home Secretary’s comments come after the Telegraph disclosed via a Freedom of Information that men, women and children arriving at Dover have been handed the free clothes – including puffer coats, hats and gloves in winter and flip-flops in summer – at a total cost of almost £4million over the past three years.
Defending the spending, Cooper said that officials also had to “make sure that we’re saving lives as well”.
Cooper’s refusal to put a cap on curbing migration comes just weeks after the Prime Minister also ruled out introducing an “arbitrary” limit.