'Stopping migrants crossing in small boats is common sense'

At its heart, I believe most British people want to control our borders and stop vulnerable people risking their lives in making a perilous journey across the Channel.

Small boat crossings were down by over a third in 2023, showing the plan to stop the boats is working. More French officers are patrolling the French coast whilst our joint intelligence cell prevented over 26,000 illegal crossings in 2023. We also reached a new fast-track returns agreement with Albania, meaning Albanian arrivals are down 94 per cent.

Whilst crossings are already down by over a third overall, we must take more action. And that’s why the Rwanda plan is important.

The legislation which will hopefully pass this week will allow us to press ahead and deliver on our long-term plan to stop the boats, ensuring it is only the British people in control of who comes here. I've been supporting this legislation in Parliament. Deterrents are an essential part of the plan to stop the boats and the people smuggling gangs.

If you enter the UK illegally, you should not be able to remain here.

Communities in East Devon have opened their doors and welcomed people from Ukraine, Hong Kong, Syria and Afghanistan. They all arrived via safe and legal routes.

If you come to our country legally, you should be welcomed with open arms. Personally, I have intervened on many immigration cases since I was elected. I have helped many people from far and wide settle into East Devon. They all wanted to contribute to our country. I’m glad they’ve found a new home here.

I have also pushed for schemes to encourage people to work in the hospitality, aerospace, and agricultural sectors where we have shortages that cannot be filled solely by training up the domestic workforce. People from other countries have much to offer our nation.

To have a fair immigration system, stopping the boats feels like common sense.