Rishi Sunak vows to invoke rarely used powers to get new immigration laws past Lords

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak onboard Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak onboard Border Agency cutter HMC Seeker during a visit to Dover

PA
Jack Walters

By Jack Walters


Published: 06/06/2023

- 17:15

Updated: 06/06/2023

- 17:37

The Prime Minister could use the Parliament Act in a bid to overcome opposition in the upper chamber

Rishi Sunak has indicated that he is willing to defy the House of Lords to force through legislation to tackle small boats crossing the English Channel.

Peers in the upper chamber have threatened to delay the passage of the controversial legislation.


The Prime Minister twice suggested he was open to using the Parliament Act to get his Illegal Migration Bill through both chambers.

The legislation allows MPs in the House of Commons to overrule the House of Lords even if it is voted down by peers.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaking during a press conference at Western Jet Foil in Dover

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaking during a press conference at Western Jet Foil in Dover

PA

The Parliament Act is rarely used but could be invoked as opposition members of the House of Lords call for a halt to the Illegal Migration Bill until an impact assessment is released.

The Liberal Democrats have led efforts to block Sunak’s efforts to tackle Channel crossing migrants.

Speaking to The Telegraph, the Prime Minister stressed his “incredibly important” measures were “very strongly” supported by MPs.

Sunak said: “One of my five priorities is to stop the boats.

The number of people embarking on the perilous 21-mile journey soared to 45,755 in 2022, up from 28,526 in 2021

The number of people embarking on the perilous 21-mile journey soared to 45,755 in 2022, up from 28,526 in 2021

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“This legislation is an incredibly important part of how we’re going to do that.

“It passed the House of Commons very strongly and my intention is to see this piece of legislation on the statute books so that we can start using it.”

The Prime Minister added: “I want to see this legislation on the statute books.

“It’s one of my five priorities. It is the country’s priority and this legislation is an incredibly important part of how we’re going to do that.”

Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant described the passage of the Illegal Migrant Bill as 'crisis time' between both Houses of Parliament

Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant described the passage of the Illegal Migrant Bill as 'crisis time' between both Houses of Parliament

GB News

Several Tory MPs have told GB News that they support Sunak potentially using the Parliament Act.

Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant said: “It’s crisis time between the elected House of Commons and the appointed House of Lords.

“It may be necessary to invoke the Parliament Act, as you’ve already heard it's only been invoked seven times before, but this may have to be the eighth time.

“We’ve got to try to stop the boats.”

\u200bTory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith

Tory MP Brendan Clarke-Smith welcomed Rishi Sunak's remarks concerning the Parliament Act

GB News

Bassetlaw MP Brendan Clarke-Smith added: “I’m pleased he’s said it.

“Ideally we shouldn’t need to use it but it passed through the Commons with very strong support and we need to deliver on this issue now.

“If that means using the Parliament Act then so be it.”

A senior Government Minister also told GB News: "The Parliament Act is there exactly for when the Lords want to stop the democratic end of the building from meeting it's commitment to voters."

Buckingham MP Greg Smith claimed: "If the Parliament Act is needed, then there should be no hesitation in using it.

"This issue needs tackling yesterday - and if the Lords try to frustrate the Bill, then all measures necessary need to be put in place to get in on the statute book."

An insider from the Brexit-backing European Research Group added: “Although it is of course rare for Governments to use the Parliament Act, the need to tackle illegal migration head on is long overdue.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dungeness, Kent

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dungeness, Kent

PA

“The unelected House of Lords are likely to do anything possible to slow down the progress of this crucial Bill, thus on this specific issue, it is only right that the democratically-elected Government use this parliamentary mechanism.”

The Parliament Act was last used when Tony Blair passed the Hunting Act in 2004.

The House of Commons Library briefing revealed only seven pieces of legislation have been passed via the Parliament Act.

During a visit to Dover on Monday, Sunak also suggested that his plan was already working by pointing to data which showed a 20 per cent drop in illegal Channel arrivals so far this year.

Tony Blair

Tony Blair was the last Prime Minister to use the Parliament Act

PA

The number stood at 9,575 in the first five months of 2022 but fell to 7,610 during the same period this year.

Despite Sunak’s comments, ex-Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage suggested weather conditions could explain the drop in crossings.

Speaking on his GB News show last night, Farage said: "He even tried to say that we are doing better than the rest of Europe in dealing with this problem.

"What it tells you is that is the Mediterranean and this is the English Channel.

Nigel Farage

Nigel Farage warned the drop in numbers has likely come due to changing weather conditions

GB News

"And for the last three and a half weeks every single day we've had a north-easterly airflow coming through the straits of Dover.

"In fact I've never known a north-easterly wind at this time of year to last this long. There's only been a couple of days in the last three and a half weeks on which any boats at all would cross.

"So to compare us with the Mediterranean is crazy. And frankly, as you say, numbers crossing the Mediterranean have risen sharply.

"That should worry you even more because guess what the number one destination for many of those people is going to be? It's going to be right here."

The Government has been increasing its efforts to stop boats crossing the Channel.

Suella Braverman

Home Secretary Suella Braverman stressed the new Illegal Migration Bill and scheme to send Channel crossers to Rwanda would further deter those tempted to make the journey

GB News

The number of people embarking on the perilous 21-mile journey soared to 45,755 in 2022, up from 28,526 in 2021.

French border officers and police have increased the number of successfully prevented crossings from 41.9 per cent to 53.2 per cent.

Sunak revealed two more barges to house 1,000 migrants have been purchased and ex-RAF bases in Scampton, Lincolnshire and Wethersfield, Essex will open this summer to take on 3,000 migrants.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman stressed the new Illegal Migration Bill and scheme to send Channel crossers to Rwanda would further deter those tempted to make the journey.

The Court of Appeal will give its verdict on the legality of the Rwanda plan over the coming days.

GB News has approached the Labour Party and Liberal Democrats for comment.

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