I know how much concern there is about illegal migration in North Warwickshire and Bedworth. This is not an easy problem to solve – despite what some politicians with no track record in government might claim – but we have seen important progress recently, with a huge 42% reduction in the number of migrants arriving in small boats this year.
This data compares January – April this year with the same period last year, meaning it takes into account the impact of the weather. That’s a really good sign that the government’s plan is starting to have an impact and numbers are coming down, although there is a lot more work to be done.
We have also reduced overall immigration by more than 78% since being elected in July 2024.
Labour has also closed more than half of the asylum hotels opened under the Conservatives, with another eleven closed in recent months and more closures scheduled soon. This latest round of closures has saved the taxpayer nearly £65 million a year, with nearly £1 billion saved on asylum processing costs since the last election.
Nearly 60,000 illegal migrants and foreign national offenders have been removed since the 2024 election – an increase of 31% – with last year seeing the highest removal rates in almost a decade. The message is clear: if you break the rules, there will be consequences.
The government has been pushing ahead with the biggest changes to the asylum system in decades, so we can secure our borders, deter illegal crossings, and ensure those with no legitimate asylum claim can be swiftly removed. That includes:
- Asylum status in the UK will no longer be permanent, with those with a legitimate claim to sanctuary granted a temporary status that must be reviewed every 30 months. Those whose home country is deemed safe at the point of review must return to that country, or face removal. These new measures have already come into force.
- The right to stay in Britain will be changed from automatic to being dependent on contribution. Refugees must be resident in the UK for 20 years before they can apply for permanent settlement, the highest level in Europe. Only those who can prove they are working, studying, and contributing will earn the right to settle more quickly.
- Human rights laws will be overhauled to ensure they are not being used to exploit the system. The public interest will be given greater weight in the cases of foreign offenders, and those making human rights claims will have to make a single consolidated claim, to prevent the lodging of multiple further claims when the first is unsuccessful.
- Asylum accommodation rules will be tightened, so that valuable items like cars and e-bikes can be seized to contribute to costs. The government remains committed to closing all asylum hotels by the end of this parliament and is beginning to move asylum seekers into more appropriate former military accommodation sites.
- Countries that block the UK from deporting foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers will face visa penalties. The government has already begun the process of sanctioning Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo for failing to cooperate on removals.
- A new agreement between the UK and France has been signed to step up patrols and intelligence operations in France to reduce illegal crossings. While I understand people’s frustration with the cost of these agreements, they do have a significant impact. Since the last election, cooperation between the UK and France has prevented more than 42,000 illegal migrants from crossing the Channel. It also led to the arrest of nearly 500 people smugglers in 2025. You can read more about the new agreement by clicking here.
Securing our borders is an important priority for me as an MP, so I am really pleased to see that we are making progress on restoring order and control. Please know that I will continue to stand up for an asylum system that is firm, fair, and fast.