'SOFT TOUCH'
Keir Starmer makes it EASIER for illegal migrants to become British citizens – as he’s slammed for ‘total capitulation’
Nearly 50 migrants in one boat were brought to Dover yesterday
KEIR Starmer is making it easier for illegal migrants to become British citizens as he is slammed for "total capitulation".
The Home Office is repealing rules put in place by the Tories which previously meant those arriving on small boats could almost never become UK Citizens.
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The original legislation blocked illegal migrants from obtaining citizenship and subjected them to age checks.
It also allowed ministers to treat asylum seekers refusing scientific age checks as adults.
Both of these are to be redacted according to the small print of a bill published last week, .
The shadow home secretary has described the move as making ";the UK the soft touch of Europe".
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Chris Philp told The Telegraph that it is a "total capitulation to people smugglers".
Home Office ministers claim the written legislation proposed in the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill should help tackle the small boats crisis.
The former Tory law was only voted through Parliament in 2023 and some Government sources claim the powers have never been used since they were passed.
Part of the previous legislation stated that almost anyone entering illegally was ineligible for settled status.
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While another clause of the same bill made it clear that those refusing scientific age assessment could be treated as over 18.
It comes as nearly 50 migrants were brought to Dover yesterday.
Following a period of stormy weather, 47 arrived in one boat, according to a posting on X.
Whopping 150,000 small boat migrants crossed Channel to Britain since 2018 – more than population of Blackpool
Chris Philp told The Telegraph: "It will lead to dangerous young men being placed with teenage girls and makes the UK the soft touch of Europe.
"Starmer is a weak Prime Minister. He is weak on borders and is weak when it comes to protecting our borders, our children and our people."
Labour's watering down has brought about fears that smugglers may advise migrants to claim they are minors.
Last year, more than 1300 illegal migrants were caught pretending to be under 18, after their cases were flagged by officials.
According to Home Office figures, three quarters of unaccompanied minors were granted asylum compared with half of adults in the year up to last September.
Those under-18 are often given school places and housed by local councils.
Current legislation means that those arriving on small boats undergo an initial assessment by two Home Office staff.
They are then judged on their "physical appearance and demeanour".
Other major European countries, including France and Germany, use medical tests to determine the ages of those arriving.
This can include X-rays and MRI scans of bones and molar teeth.
Despite the power to conduct similar in the UK being voted in place in 2022, they are yet to be put into practice.
Labour has revealed it will retain some of the weaker clauses that were written in the Nationality and Borders Act from three years ago.
The new Government could introduce stronger legislation if it feels it is necessary.
Many political figures have already turned to social media to express their thoughts on the easing of checks.
Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe wrote: "Our asylum system is already as soft as a boiled maggot. Zero tolerance is required."
The Sun has approached the Home Office for comment.
A Home Office spokesperson said: "The new Border Security Asylum and Immigration Bill introduces workable measures to strengthen cross-system, operational efforts to tighten border security, enhance upstream work with international partners and help ensure a properly functioning, secure immigration system.
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"The Illegal Migration Act has largely not been commenced (including this measure on age assessments); nor will it be under this government’s policy which focuses on delivering long-term, credible policies that restore order to the asylum system.
"We have robust processes in place to verify and assess an individual’s age where there is doubt, including the National Age Assessment Board, and have maintained the provisions on scientific assessments from the Nationality & Borders Act 2022."
The Sun Says Labour’s slavish devotion to ECHR proves they will never fully clampdown on migration
By the Sun
HOME Secretary Yvette Cooper’s planned new legislation to stop lawyers coaching migrants is plain common sense.
Legal advice for new arrivals straight off the boat should not be to make up false claims in order to prevent them being deported.
Why should someone be encouraged to pretend they are gay so they can stay in Britain to avoid persecution back home?
Such unscrupulous advice is not legal. It’s criminal.
But the new plans are a perfect example of how Labour pulls in two directions at the same time.
While these policies were being put together, the Government’s top law officer was on his feet before the Council of Europe.
Our EU-loving Attorney General Lord Hermer told Strasbourg that our Government “will never withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights or refuse to comply with judgments of the court.”
It is precisely the rulings of this court which provide illegal migrants with the ammunition for their battles to stay in Britain.
And yet the Attorney General promises we will never even challenge it.
Yvette Cooper may be trying to root out dodgy lawyers with her clampdown.
But Lord Hermer’s slavish devotion to the human rights brigade will be music to their ears.
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