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Migration plans are compassionate, says Suella Braverman Ministers offer new concessions on migration bill
(about 4 hours later)
Suella Braverman has insisted her migration plan is compassionate, after Britain's rights watchdog said it put people at risk of serious harm. The government has pledged to limit the new child detention powers in its migration bill to defuse a backbench rebellion.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) says the Illegal Migration Bill penalises refugees and could breach international law. Around 20 Tory MPs wanted to require court approval to detain unaccompanied children longer than three days.
But the home secretary denied this, and said it would deter people from making dangerous Channel crossings. But they agreed not to push their amendment to a vote, after ministers pledged to work with them on a "new timescale".
It comes as the bill faces its final stages in the Commons later. However, ministers have yet to specify the limits in the bill itself.
Ministers appear to have defused a rebellion with Tory rebels who want to limit how long unaccompanied children could be detained under the bill. The government has made a series of concessions to different sections of the Tory party, in order to head off rebellions during the bill's final stages in the House of Commons.
The government has already struck deal with a different set of Tory rebels over European court rulings, giving UK minsters more leeway to ignore them. However, it is not yet clear whether it could still face a rebellion spearheaded by former PM Theresa May over the issue of modern slavery.
Ministers have also committed to consulting on new safe and legal routes for migrants, after pressure on the issue from backbenchers. The bill is also widely expected to run into opposition at its next stage in the House of Lords, where it could be heavily amended.
UK migration bill set to be toughenedUK migration bill set to be toughened
Asylum plan risks breaching human rights - watchdogAsylum plan risks breaching human rights - watchdog
How is the UK stopping Channel crossings?How is the UK stopping Channel crossings?
The bill, unveiled in March, is a key part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plan to "stop" small boats crossing the English Channel.The bill, unveiled in March, is a key part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's plan to "stop" small boats crossing the English Channel.
It will place a legal duty on the home secretary to detain and remove those arriving in the UK illegally, to Rwanda or a "safe" third country. It will place a legal duty on the home secretary to detain and remove those arriving in the UK illegally, to Rwanda or another "safe" third country, taking legal precedence over someone's right to claim asylum.
This will take legal precedence over someone's right to claim asylum, prompting accusations it will put the UK in breach of its legal obligations towards refugees. This has prompted outrage from opposition parties and charities, which argue the bill is unworkable and could breach international law.
In a statement on Monday, the EHRC said it had concerns the bill risked a breach of international law, and "exposing individuals to serious harm". There has also been concern, including among Tory MPs, over new powers in the bill to detain people - including children - on the suspicion that they are liable for removal.
It also added that it had concerns over "broad provisions" in the bill to detain children and pregnant women arriving on small boats. A group of rebel Tory MPs, led by Tim Loughton, tabled an amendment to place new limits on the circumstances in which unaccompanied children could be held.
'Element of deterrence' But as the bill neared its final Commons passage, he agreed to withdraw it "on trust" after Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick pledged he would listen to concerns.
But Ms Braverman rejected the watchdog's criticism, saying she disagreed with the idea the bill would put people at serious harm. The government has introduced amendments of its own, enabling it to set a unspecified limit on child detention in the future, with Mr Jenrick promising to work with MPs on designing a new limit.
Asked about the EHRC's view on BBC Breakfast, she said: "I refute the suggestion our measures are unlawful, or indeed cruel or inhumane. However, the commitment was dismissed as vague by the SNP's Alison Thewliss, who added: "We do not trust them to do the right thing here".
"Our measures in the bill are both robust and humanitarian and compassionate," she added. Modern slavery
"We need to inject an element of deterrence, so that people don't make the treacherous journey on a flimsy dinghy in the middle of the night in the first place". However, the government could still face a potential revolt from Mrs May and former Tory leader Iain Duncan-Smith, who want to exempt UK exploitation victims from deportation.
She declined to say how many extra places would be needed to detain people under the new bill, saying more capacity would be needed but she could not give a "precise figure". The bill would remove temporary protections against removal from the UK that are currently offered to suspected victims of modern slavery or human trafficking while their case is considered.
Sudan concerns Speaking in the Commons, Mrs May said the current version of the bill would mean "more people will stay enslaved and in exploitation," by giving traffickers "another weapon" to stop victims going to the police.
She also faced questions about whether the UK would create new legal routes for people fleeing violence in Sudan. To get the bill through, ministers have also promised to consult on new safe and legal routes for migrants, after pressure on the issue from backbenchers.
Asked why new routes for them have not yet been announced, she said the UK's current priority was to support British nationals, and there were "a lot of unknowns" about how the situation would develop. Under a new amendment, it has committed to publishing a report on new routes within six months of the bill becoming law.
On Tuesday, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said the UK was supporting other countries hosting refugees in the region, but conceded that "in time" the crisis was likely to lead to new migration pressures. It has also addressed concerns from the Tory right with a separate amendment giving UK minsters more leeway to ignore European court rulings.
The government has already committed to publishing a report on new safe and legal routes within six months of the bill becoming law,in order to avoid a rebellion on the issue earlier in the bill's passage. However, even with the government's concessions, the bill is still expected to face significant opposition when it proceeds to the Lords in the coming months.
Tory MP Tim Loughton, who had been leading the rebellion on the issue, told BBC Two's Politics Live that "ideally" safe routes would be in place when the bill takes effect.
But he added that "a lot of work" was needed to draw up specific proposals, which he suggested could include extending existing family reunion routes or a new scheme to take in unaccompanied child asylum-seekers from other countries.
Ministers also appear to have avoided a revolt over a different rebel amendment, which would require them to get approval from a court to detain unaccompanied child migrants for more than three days.
Mr Loughton, who was also behind that amendment, said that after "intensive discussions" with ministers, he understood they would commit later to amend the bill to address his concerns when it goes to its next stage in the House of Lords.
He added that he wanted to ensure appropriate legal "safeguards" were in place for detaining children.
However, even with the government concessions the bill is still expected to face significant opposition when it proceeds to the Lords in the coming months.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
Suella BravermanSuella Braverman
Refugees and asylum seekersRefugees and asylum seekers
MigrationMigration