The UK has been and continues to be a safe haven for all those who are fleeing danger.
In my job, at the Department for Work and Pensions, I am working as Employment Minister on the Afghan Resettlement Scheme, helping these resettlers and asylum seekers find jobs and training.
Many thousands of Ukrainians are coming here to safety while fighting rages in their country. Just a few years ago, Syrians came safely to our shores too.
However, the disgusting human trafficking of economic migrants from France – a safe country – by criminal gangs is a major worry and the danger to those who make the perilous Channel crossing is obvious, as tragic recent deaths show.
This route is lining the pockets of organised crime and leaving many people at the mercy of unscrupulous gangs on either side of the channel, with fears over the exploitation of women and modern slavery.
This announcement will importantly do much to disrupt and deter the gangs’ business model and instead promote safe and legal routes for asylum seekers. It will save lives in the Channel and it will also allow the UK to tackle the broken global asylum system while helping those in genuine need.
I will look through the details in the coming days and weeks with interest.
