Even Former PM Theresa May told the UK parliament the bill would “consign more people to slavery” as it passed through both houses.
The New Arab Staff
18 July, 2023
Protesters gathered in Westminster as the bill passed the House of Lords [Getty images]
The UK government’s notorious plans to render irregular arrival by boat to the shores of the British Isles are now set to become law after the House of Lords relented on key amendments to let the legislation pass on Tuesday.
The new legislation, by closing all irregular means of reaching the mainland, will effectively render it impossible to claim asylum in the UK.
According to the bill - a key tranche of Rishi Sunak’s pledge to “stop the boats” - asylum seekers will be compelled to make an asylum claim in the first safe country they arrive in rather than coming to the British Isles.
Rights groups, activists and migrants have all expressed their outrage at the landmark new law, which was dubbed as "immoral", "performative cruelty" and a "dark day" for the UK.
Even Former PM Theresa May told the UK Parliament the bill would “consign more people to slavery” after undoing “the good work of the modern slavery act” that was past under her tenure.
‘Contrary to international law’
UN rights chiefs have spoken out stridently against the new law, saying the bill "is at variance with the country's obligations under international human rights and refugee law and will have profound consequences for people in need of international protection".
In a joint statement by UN human rights chief Volker Turk and the UN refugees head Filippo Grandi, both men accused the bill of blocking access to asylum in Britain for anyone who arrives irregularly, having passed through a country - however briefly - where they did not face persecution.
"This new legislation significantly erodes the legal framework that has protected so many, exposing refugees to grave risks in breach of international law," Grandi said.
The 1951 Refugee Convention explicitly recognises that refugees may be compelled to enter a country of asylum irregularly, the pair noted.
"I urge the UK government to renew this commitment to human rights by reversing this law and ensuring that the rights of all migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers are respected, protected and fulfilled, without discrimination," Turk said.
‘Immoral and impractical’
Many analysts also believe the legislation is unlikely to work - either as a deterrent or a practical tool for removing people who do arrive across the channel.
“It is impossible to implement, incredibly expensive and it will create a permanent asylum backlog,” said asylum legal expert Colin Yeo.
“Lots of asylum seekers will disappear into communities. But they’ll still be here, just poor, homeless, vulnerable and exploitable. It’s a terrible piece of legislation,” he said.
Some experts believe that the legislation will even boost the profits of criminal gangs who engage in people smuggling.
“Why do I say criminal gangs are the only ones who will celebrate the passage of Braverman’s ‘illegal migration’ bill?” asked lawyer and campaigner Zoe Gardner.
“Because it empowers them while taking away all legal protections from their victims… You say to the traffickers, we won’t help these people - have at them,” she said.
“People fleeing war and persecution do not have the luxury of waiting around for a visa,” said HRW director Kenneth Roth.
18 July, 2023
Protesters gathered in Westminster as the bill passed the House of Lords [Getty images]
The UK government’s notorious plans to render irregular arrival by boat to the shores of the British Isles are now set to become law after the House of Lords relented on key amendments to let the legislation pass on Tuesday.
The new legislation, by closing all irregular means of reaching the mainland, will effectively render it impossible to claim asylum in the UK.
According to the bill - a key tranche of Rishi Sunak’s pledge to “stop the boats” - asylum seekers will be compelled to make an asylum claim in the first safe country they arrive in rather than coming to the British Isles.
Rights groups, activists and migrants have all expressed their outrage at the landmark new law, which was dubbed as "immoral", "performative cruelty" and a "dark day" for the UK.
Even Former PM Theresa May told the UK Parliament the bill would “consign more people to slavery” after undoing “the good work of the modern slavery act” that was past under her tenure.
‘Contrary to international law’
UN rights chiefs have spoken out stridently against the new law, saying the bill "is at variance with the country's obligations under international human rights and refugee law and will have profound consequences for people in need of international protection".
In a joint statement by UN human rights chief Volker Turk and the UN refugees head Filippo Grandi, both men accused the bill of blocking access to asylum in Britain for anyone who arrives irregularly, having passed through a country - however briefly - where they did not face persecution.
"This new legislation significantly erodes the legal framework that has protected so many, exposing refugees to grave risks in breach of international law," Grandi said.
The 1951 Refugee Convention explicitly recognises that refugees may be compelled to enter a country of asylum irregularly, the pair noted.
"I urge the UK government to renew this commitment to human rights by reversing this law and ensuring that the rights of all migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers are respected, protected and fulfilled, without discrimination," Turk said.
‘Immoral and impractical’
Many analysts also believe the legislation is unlikely to work - either as a deterrent or a practical tool for removing people who do arrive across the channel.
“It is impossible to implement, incredibly expensive and it will create a permanent asylum backlog,” said asylum legal expert Colin Yeo.
“Lots of asylum seekers will disappear into communities. But they’ll still be here, just poor, homeless, vulnerable and exploitable. It’s a terrible piece of legislation,” he said.
Some experts believe that the legislation will even boost the profits of criminal gangs who engage in people smuggling.
“Why do I say criminal gangs are the only ones who will celebrate the passage of Braverman’s ‘illegal migration’ bill?” asked lawyer and campaigner Zoe Gardner.
“Because it empowers them while taking away all legal protections from their victims… You say to the traffickers, we won’t help these people - have at them,” she said.
“People fleeing war and persecution do not have the luxury of waiting around for a visa,” said HRW director Kenneth Roth.
Asylum seeker barge docks in Britain as migration bill becomes law
By Paul Godfrey
A barge destined to accommodate 500 asylum seekers off Britain's south coast docked in Portland, Dorset, on Tuesday ahead of the arrival of its first residents later this month. File Photo by Jon Rowley/EPA-EFE
July 18 (UPI) -- A former gas-field accommodation barge converted to house 500 asylum seekers docked on Britain's south coast Tuesday as the government's controversial drive to "stop the boats" shifted into high gear.
The 10,000-ton Bibby Stockholm cruised into Portland Harbor in Dorset behind a tugboat fresh from a re-fit in Falmouth, Cornwall, just days before the first residents were due to board and hours after the highly contentious Illegal Migration Bill finally cleared the House of Lords.
The barge is one of three the government plans to use to alleviate "unsustainable pressure on the U.K.'s asylum system" and reduce the millions of dollars currently being spent on accommodating asylum seekers in hotels.
The move comes despite opposition from local people who fear the impact of the arrival of 500 mostly single men on a town with a population of just 13,000. Last month, thousands demonstrated, angry that they had not been consulted.
"I think it's right for the public as a whole that we move away from a situation where $7.9 million a day of taxpayers' money is going towards housing these individuals in hotels," said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson.
The spokesperson said the government believes it was better to "open specific sites designed to house immigrants that come in, done in a more planned way."
"That's what we are seeking to do with the Bibby Stockholm and that's what we're seeking to do in other parts of the country -- opening up sites to take the pressure off local areas and to reduce the cost," the spokesperson said.
In addition to offering taxpayers "better value" the Home Office said the barge would be "more manageable for communities than costly hotels."
"We continue to work extremely closely with local councils and key partners to prepare for arrival of asylum seekers later this month and minimize disruption for local residents including through substantial financial support," they added.
Charities and campaign groups called the passage late Monday of the migration bill -- which makes arriving in Britain via irregular channels such as small boats illegal -- through the upper house of the legislature "a dark day."
Following an extended battle between the government and Lords, many of whom had fought to amend or block the bill, the government now has the power to detain all asylum seekers on arrival, deport them to their country -- or a safe third country -- and ban them from ever returning or applying for British citizenship.
The government hopes the law will act as a deterrent, drastically reducing numbers from the 45,722 who crossed the English Channel in small boats in 2022. However, the plan hinges on removing people for asylum claims processing to Rwanda, a country the courts have ruled is not safe.
Opposition parties and religious leaders said the law hurt Britain's international image and would not achieve its goals.
Green Party peer Jenny Jones called the law "unworkable, shameful and embarrassing for Britain."
Labor MP Stella Creasy said: "It won't stop the boats. It will damage children's lives. Cruelty might make good telly, but makes terrible legislation."
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said he "failed to see" how the bill would stop the boats but had given way due to the precedent that the House of Commons was supreme to the Lords.
"This cruel bill will now give the government the green light to flout international law and mistreat refugees to distract from their own failure to fix the problems they created when ministers closed safe routes to asylum," said Best of Britain CEO Naomi Smith.
By Paul Godfrey
A barge destined to accommodate 500 asylum seekers off Britain's south coast docked in Portland, Dorset, on Tuesday ahead of the arrival of its first residents later this month. File Photo by Jon Rowley/EPA-EFE
July 18 (UPI) -- A former gas-field accommodation barge converted to house 500 asylum seekers docked on Britain's south coast Tuesday as the government's controversial drive to "stop the boats" shifted into high gear.
The 10,000-ton Bibby Stockholm cruised into Portland Harbor in Dorset behind a tugboat fresh from a re-fit in Falmouth, Cornwall, just days before the first residents were due to board and hours after the highly contentious Illegal Migration Bill finally cleared the House of Lords.
The barge is one of three the government plans to use to alleviate "unsustainable pressure on the U.K.'s asylum system" and reduce the millions of dollars currently being spent on accommodating asylum seekers in hotels.
The move comes despite opposition from local people who fear the impact of the arrival of 500 mostly single men on a town with a population of just 13,000. Last month, thousands demonstrated, angry that they had not been consulted.
"I think it's right for the public as a whole that we move away from a situation where $7.9 million a day of taxpayers' money is going towards housing these individuals in hotels," said Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's spokesperson.
The spokesperson said the government believes it was better to "open specific sites designed to house immigrants that come in, done in a more planned way."
"That's what we are seeking to do with the Bibby Stockholm and that's what we're seeking to do in other parts of the country -- opening up sites to take the pressure off local areas and to reduce the cost," the spokesperson said.
In addition to offering taxpayers "better value" the Home Office said the barge would be "more manageable for communities than costly hotels."
"We continue to work extremely closely with local councils and key partners to prepare for arrival of asylum seekers later this month and minimize disruption for local residents including through substantial financial support," they added.
Charities and campaign groups called the passage late Monday of the migration bill -- which makes arriving in Britain via irregular channels such as small boats illegal -- through the upper house of the legislature "a dark day."
Following an extended battle between the government and Lords, many of whom had fought to amend or block the bill, the government now has the power to detain all asylum seekers on arrival, deport them to their country -- or a safe third country -- and ban them from ever returning or applying for British citizenship.
The government hopes the law will act as a deterrent, drastically reducing numbers from the 45,722 who crossed the English Channel in small boats in 2022. However, the plan hinges on removing people for asylum claims processing to Rwanda, a country the courts have ruled is not safe.
Opposition parties and religious leaders said the law hurt Britain's international image and would not achieve its goals.
Green Party peer Jenny Jones called the law "unworkable, shameful and embarrassing for Britain."
Labor MP Stella Creasy said: "It won't stop the boats. It will damage children's lives. Cruelty might make good telly, but makes terrible legislation."
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said he "failed to see" how the bill would stop the boats but had given way due to the precedent that the House of Commons was supreme to the Lords.
"This cruel bill will now give the government the green light to flout international law and mistreat refugees to distract from their own failure to fix the problems they created when ministers closed safe routes to asylum," said Best of Britain CEO Naomi Smith.
Barges set to hold asylum seekers reported to have been refused berths
Government plans to house asylum seekers on barges hit choppy waters
By Robert Dex@RobDexES
1 hour ago
The Government says it is “continuing discussions” following a report that two vessels set to house asylum seekers were unable to find a berth.
Sky News reported plans for one of the cruise ships to house asylum seekers near Liverpool were scrapped after being declined by the port operator while another vessel was refused docking near Edinburgh.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I’ve seen that reported. For our part, we are continuing discussions both in terms of those who can provide additional accommodation facilities and sites where it can be housed.
“That will continue. We want to open more, obviously Bibby Stockholm has arrived today and will be taking people on board this month.”
The Prime Minister has made dealing with the small boats crossing the channel a priority for his administration.
Government plans to house asylum seekers on barges hit choppy waters
The Bibby Stockholm accommodation barge arrives in Portland Port
(Ben Birchall/PA) / PA Wire
By Robert Dex@RobDexES
1 hour ago
The Government says it is “continuing discussions” following a report that two vessels set to house asylum seekers were unable to find a berth.
Sky News reported plans for one of the cruise ships to house asylum seekers near Liverpool were scrapped after being declined by the port operator while another vessel was refused docking near Edinburgh.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I’ve seen that reported. For our part, we are continuing discussions both in terms of those who can provide additional accommodation facilities and sites where it can be housed.
“That will continue. We want to open more, obviously Bibby Stockholm has arrived today and will be taking people on board this month.”
The Prime Minister has made dealing with the small boats crossing the channel a priority for his administration.
First look inside former RAF base being turned into asylum seeker accommodation
He said in June the government had acquired two vessels, as well as the Bibby Stockholm barge which arrived in Dorset on Tuesday, in an attempt to cut down on multi-million pound hotel bills for housing people crossing in small boats.
It is not clear how much the government paid for the boats before returning them to the owner.
A Home Office spokesperson said they could not comment on commercial arrangements, but said the government had been looking at a “range of accommodation options which offer better value for the British taxpayer than expensive hotels”.
Around 50 asylum seekers will board the Bibby Stockholm from next week.
A Home Office spokesman said: “The Bibby Stockholm has now arrived at Portland Port where it will be moved around the port to position it for its final berth.
“From next week about 50 asylum seekers will be moved on to the vessel as part of a carefully structured plan to increase the number of individuals on board over the next few months.
“The Government is providing substantial funding to local services including the police and NHS to support them and minimise the impact on the community, and there will be 24/7 security on site.
“The site is designed to be self-sufficient in order to minimise the impact on the local community, with catering, recreational areas and basic health care provision on board.”
He said in June the government had acquired two vessels, as well as the Bibby Stockholm barge which arrived in Dorset on Tuesday, in an attempt to cut down on multi-million pound hotel bills for housing people crossing in small boats.
It is not clear how much the government paid for the boats before returning them to the owner.
A Home Office spokesperson said they could not comment on commercial arrangements, but said the government had been looking at a “range of accommodation options which offer better value for the British taxpayer than expensive hotels”.
Around 50 asylum seekers will board the Bibby Stockholm from next week.
A Home Office spokesman said: “The Bibby Stockholm has now arrived at Portland Port where it will be moved around the port to position it for its final berth.
“From next week about 50 asylum seekers will be moved on to the vessel as part of a carefully structured plan to increase the number of individuals on board over the next few months.
“The Government is providing substantial funding to local services including the police and NHS to support them and minimise the impact on the community, and there will be 24/7 security on site.
“The site is designed to be self-sufficient in order to minimise the impact on the local community, with catering, recreational areas and basic health care provision on board.”
Bibby Stockholm: Protests as barge to house 500 asylum seekers arrives in Dorset port
The accommodation barge arrived in Portland Port on Tuesday morning
A barge set to house hundreds of asylum seekers off the coast of England was met by protesters as it arrived in Dorset on Tuesday morning.
The Bibby Stockholm - which is due to accommodate 500 people - was pictured being pulled by a tug into Portland Port, a month behind schedule.
Locals opposed to the plan staged a protest on the quayside as the barge was towed in.
PA
They carried placards reading “refugees welcome”, “no to the barge” and “care for refugees and care for Portland too”. Other branded the Bibby Stockholm a “floating prison” and “prison barge”.
But locals in Dorset have raised concerns about the Portland site being used.
Spencer Flower, the Tory leader of Dorset Council, said in May the authority opposed the plan and had “serious reservations about the appropriateness of Portland Port in this scenario”.
The Home Office said the barge will provide “basic and functional accommodation”, healthcare provision and catering facilities.
Around-the-clock security will be in place onboard “to minimise the disruption to local communities”, the Home Office added.
Meanwhile Dorset Council has been given a £2 million funding package to meet the cost of providing services for the Bibby Stockholm residents.
PA
They will prevent people from claiming asylum in the UK if they arrive through unauthorised means.
The Government also hopes the changes will ensure detained people are promptly removed, either to their home country or a third country such as Rwanda, which is currently the subject of a legal challenge.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper on Monday declined to commit on immediately closing migrant barges, if the Labour Party seized power at the next general election.
Instead she said it would work to “rapidly clear” the decisions backlog that has spiralled under the Government before reverting to traditional asylum accommodation.
The accommodation barge arrived in Portland Port on Tuesday morning
A barge set to house hundreds of asylum seekers off the coast of England was met by protesters as it arrived in Dorset on Tuesday morning.
The Bibby Stockholm - which is due to accommodate 500 people - was pictured being pulled by a tug into Portland Port, a month behind schedule.
Locals opposed to the plan staged a protest on the quayside as the barge was towed in.
PAThey carried placards reading “refugees welcome”, “no to the barge” and “care for refugees and care for Portland too”. Other branded the Bibby Stockholm a “floating prison” and “prison barge”.
Rishi Sunak under pressure on ‘five key pledges’ amid Rwanda court battle
Plans to accommodate migrants on the vessel - under Rishi Sunak’s bid to “stop the boats” crossing the Channel - have been met with widespread backlash.
Human rights organisations have criticised the “cruelty” of “confining” hundreds of vulnerable people on a barge, and have blamed the Government for creating the current backlog of asylum claims.
Around 51,000 asylum seekers are currently in temporary accommodation such as hotels.
Plans to accommodate migrants on the vessel - under Rishi Sunak’s bid to “stop the boats” crossing the Channel - have been met with widespread backlash.
Human rights organisations have criticised the “cruelty” of “confining” hundreds of vulnerable people on a barge, and have blamed the Government for creating the current backlog of asylum claims.
Around 51,000 asylum seekers are currently in temporary accommodation such as hotels.
PA
Downing Street has defended the use of barges to house migrants, insisting it is a cheaper alternative to housing them in hotels.
Downing Street has defended the use of barges to house migrants, insisting it is a cheaper alternative to housing them in hotels.
But locals in Dorset have raised concerns about the Portland site being used.
Spencer Flower, the Tory leader of Dorset Council, said in May the authority opposed the plan and had “serious reservations about the appropriateness of Portland Port in this scenario”.
The Home Office said the barge will provide “basic and functional accommodation”, healthcare provision and catering facilities.
Around-the-clock security will be in place onboard “to minimise the disruption to local communities”, the Home Office added.
Meanwhile Dorset Council has been given a £2 million funding package to meet the cost of providing services for the Bibby Stockholm residents.
PA
The Bibby Stockholm will be in operation in Portland for at least 18 months and the Home Office is in discussion with other ports with the aim of deploying more vessels.
Liverpool-based operator Bibby Marine Limited says the 93-metre-long barge has been refurbished since it was described as an “oppressive environment” when it was used by the Dutch government to house asylum seekers in the Netherlands.
The barge’s arrival in Portland on Tuesday came after a night of drama on Monday, in which the Tory frontbench saw off five further changes being sought by the unelected chamber to the Illegal Migration Bill, including modern slavery protections and child detention limits.
The reforms are a key part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s bid to deter people from making hazardous Channel crossings.
The Bibby Stockholm will be in operation in Portland for at least 18 months and the Home Office is in discussion with other ports with the aim of deploying more vessels.
Liverpool-based operator Bibby Marine Limited says the 93-metre-long barge has been refurbished since it was described as an “oppressive environment” when it was used by the Dutch government to house asylum seekers in the Netherlands.
The barge’s arrival in Portland on Tuesday came after a night of drama on Monday, in which the Tory frontbench saw off five further changes being sought by the unelected chamber to the Illegal Migration Bill, including modern slavery protections and child detention limits.
The reforms are a key part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s bid to deter people from making hazardous Channel crossings.
PAThey will prevent people from claiming asylum in the UK if they arrive through unauthorised means.
The Government also hopes the changes will ensure detained people are promptly removed, either to their home country or a third country such as Rwanda, which is currently the subject of a legal challenge.
Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper on Monday declined to commit on immediately closing migrant barges, if the Labour Party seized power at the next general election.
Instead she said it would work to “rapidly clear” the decisions backlog that has spiralled under the Government before reverting to traditional asylum accommodation.
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