This is the year we can unite, stop the boats and smash Labour at the general election.
The Prime Minister has a record of doing what he promises. Already crossings are down over a third from last year despite arrivals in the Mediterranean soaring by 80 percent.
But the government is determined to go further and set up a deterrent to show people that if they come here illegally, they cannot stay.
We know deterrents work- people coming by boat from Albania are down by 90 percent after the Prime Minister did a deal with their government to return their illegal migrants.
That’s why the government is determined to send people who come here illegally to Rwanda.
To do this, the Prime Minister has introduced the toughest immigration legislation ever into Parliament to get flights off to Rwanda.
I’m a lawyer and a member of both the Home Affairs Select Committee and the Justice Select Committee. Since you elected me to Parliament I have consistently made the case for securing our borders.
This issue is hugely important to me, people across Bury and the wider country and I want something that will ensure the Rwanda plan works.
The bill is robust – disapplying sections of the Human Rights Act to prevent people making bogus claims and preventing the courts from trying to meddle with the will of Parliament.
It pushes the boundaries of international law while remaining within it. Why does that matter? Because the Rwandan government has explicitly said they will only continue with our partnership if we do respect the international conventions we are signed up to.
And the bill makes it clear it will be a UK minister who decides whether to listen if a foreign court tries to block a flight, not judges.
So, (the Bury Times went to print for today's paper before the vote took place last night), I am backing this bill. I hope everyone on the government benches does the same.
The alternative is division within our Conservative family that would help only the Labour Party and let our nation down.
Sir Keir Starmer has no plan to stop the boats – except to cosy up to the EU and allow in 100,000 more migrants. He’s a complete joke and would take us back to square one.
Labour here in Bury either agree with their leader or want even less effort to control illegal immigration.
The Conservatives have a plan – let’s all get behind it, stop the boats and build a brighter future for this great country.
James Daly is the Member of Parliament for Bury North. To contact James go to: www.jamesdaly.org.uk/contact.
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