Contributions
2,978 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD ImmigrationI am going to make some progress. I have a question for the Immigration Minister. She is welcome to intervene if she wishes to do so, or else respond in her speech. The last…21 May 2025HANSARD ImmigrationI beg to move, That this House regrets that there have been a record-breaking number of small boat crossings, amounting to over 12,000 this year alone and a lack of action from…21 May 2025HANSARD ImmigrationI will talk a bit in a moment about the record of the last Government, but I have already said that for decades, under successive Governments—including the last one, but previous…21 May 2025HANSARD ImmigrationI will give way in a minute. In advancing the case that we have a problem with social cohesion and a lack of integration, I will present some evidence—it is not an assertion—in…21 May 2025HANSARD ImmigrationI will give way in just a moment. These figures illustrate that we have a problem with integration, and that is why we need to get these numbers dramatically down, until such time…21 May 2025HANSARD ImmigrationI do not think that the right hon. Gentleman was listening very carefully. I expressly said that highly skilled migrants do make a contribution and should be welcomed, and when I…21 May 2025HANSARD ImmigrationYes, of course I would. A number of people have tragically lost their lives crossing the channel, and that is precisely why we need to stop these crossings entirely, as Australia…21 May 2025HANSARD ImmigrationI think he should do that, because the British public have expressed very clear views on this issue, and if we cannot, in this House of all places, lay out the facts—published…21 May 2025HANSARDNational Security Act 2023: ChargesI thank the Home Secretary for advance sight of her statement. I join her in paying tribute to counter-terrorism policing and the security services for the work they do daily to…19 May 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillThank you, Madam Deputy Speaker, for this unexpected opportunity. The reason the Opposition will vote against the Bill is that it does nothing to restore control of our country’s…12 May 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillMadam Deputy Speaker, I will follow your injunction to wind up. Of course, we need to pay attention to the rights and protection of children, but having people smuggled across the…12 May 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillThe hon. Gentleman will know that around the world, there are very many female and child refugees. The last Government welcomed many of them here under the UK resettlement scheme…12 May 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillMy hon. Friend raises an excellent point. In fact, he draws me to new clause 12, which we tabled. It mandates the Government to get on with implementing scientific age…12 May 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillI certainly agree that the hon. Gentleman has had long enough, and his constituents may well agree in a few years’ time. I gave the figures very clearly: since the election,…12 May 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillI will give way in a minute. There are more complicated techniques these days, such as testing DNA methylation, and other less intrusive tests. We are the only country not to use…12 May 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillI am going to make a bit of progress. The second amendment that we intend to put to a vote, new clause 14, concerns the Human Rights Act. The Government, through the Home…12 May 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillMy hon. Friend makes a good point, and it is germane to the earlier discussion about people crossing the channel illegally. So long as we have 11,000 or 12,000 people crossing the…12 May 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillHow about the hon. Gentleman votes for the cap this evening, and then we can debate what level it should be set at? We are not going to debate the level of a cap that currently…12 May 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillI rise to speak to new clauses 14 and 18, and to various other new clauses and amendments that stand in my name and those of my right hon. and hon. Friends. Let me start by paying…12 May 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillIf the former leader of the Liberal Democrats wants to say something to the contrary, I would be glad to give way.12 May 2025