Kerry McCarthy Labour MP for Bristol East
I was able to ask an Urgent Question in Parliament on Channel Crossings in Small Boats yesterday – a subject that has dominated headlines. I know it has proven emotional for many of us watching on as people undertake dangerous journeys to flee violence and persecution.
As I stated in my question, one of the reasons there has been a rise in small boat crossings is that tighter border controls and a steep fall in freight traffic because of coronavirus have made it more difficult for people smugglers to use lorries and other vehicles to move asylum seekers.
My Labour Party colleagues and I are pressing the Government to provide meaningful solutions, from working with the French authorities to identify those with a proven connection to the UK to offering more safe and legal routes for people to claim asylum so they don’t fall prey to the traffickers. I’ve already written to the Home Secretary to request that this happens, but in the meantime, we’ll continue to use every opportunity we can in Parliament to highlight the need for action.
I was able to ask an Urgent Question in Parliament on Channel Crossings in Small Boats yesterday – a subject that has dominated headlines. I know it has proven emotional for many of us watching on as people undertake dangerous journeys to flee violence and persecution.As I said today, one of the reasons there has been a rise in small boat crossings is that tighter border controls and a steep fall in freight traffic because of coronavirus have made it more difficult for people smugglers to use lorries and other vehicles to move asylum seekers. My Labour Party colleagues and I are pressing the Government to provide meaningful solutions, from working with the French authorities to identify those with a proven connection to the UK to offering more safe and legal routes for people to claim asylum so they don’t fall prey to the traffickers. I've already written to the Home Secretary to request that this happens, but in the meantime, we'll continue to use every opportunity we can in Parliament to highlight the need for action.
Posted by Kerry McCarthy MP on Wednesday, 2 September 2020
