Yesterday made a speech during the Immigration Bill Report and Third Reading before it passes over to the House of Lords. It has not been very often that I have knocked on a door and people have not raised this issue with me in Rochester and Strood. I also receive numerous correspondence regarding constituent’s concerns about the effects of illegal attempts to get into our country, which have had damaging impacts on Kent’s economy and infrastructure, as we all witnessed during this summer’s Operation Stack.
I was pleased to be able to highlight this to the House along with the need to put an end of attempts to gain entry to the UK by clandestine routes. I also took this opportunity to raise questions with certain Opposition clauses on family reunion and unaccompanied minors. When individuals have followed the correct procedures to obtain entry to this country and to seek asylum, it is right that they are supported.
But when those measures have been exhausted, I agree with constituents that the British taxpayer should not have to pick up the burden of looking after failed asylum seekers, or uniting families who have irresponsibly sent their young children in order to speed up their application. We absolutely do not want to separate families, but people should follow the correct procedures and the provision should not be seen as a way of trying to jump the rules to obtain entry to this country more quickly.
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