Illegal Migration Bill

Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts Excerpts

Wednesday 8th March 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Liddle (Lab)]

My Lords—

[Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Liddle (Lab)]

We have had only one Labour person.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Murray of Blidworth (Con)]

I agree that international co-operation is a vital part of the jigsaw; that is why we reached fresh agreements in December with the Governments of Albania and of France and why the Prime Minister is meeting President Macron on Friday. To that extent, I agree with the noble Lord. However, I do not agree that the United Kingdom cannot act unilaterally, because we need to stop people taking these risky journeys across the channel—one of the busiest and most dangerous sea lanes in the world. That requires special legislation to be passed by this Parliament, and this Bill satisfies that.

[Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts (Con)]

My Lords, does my noble friend recall that, last year, we granted right of admission to 1.1 million people and gave right to remain to 504,000 people? Is it not unsurprising, given the scale of those numbers, that the British people are asking us to bear down on those who seek to jump the queue and arrive illegally?

[Lord Murray of Blidworth (Con)]

I could not have put it better myself; I entirely agree with my noble friend.