RISHI Sunak will “put the pedal to the metal” after his Brexit win by finally unveiling his much-delayed small boats law next week.
Allies say the PM is hopeful, despite last-minute wrangling with government lawyers about its scale and scope.
Rishi Sunak will unveil his small-boats law next week after multiple delays
Rishi Sunak was unable to tell MPs when it was coming forward earlier this week
His Bill will make it a crime to enter the UK without permission — and enshrine in law the ability to deport illegal migrants within days to safe countries like Rwanda.
It has been delayed for weeks to ensure it is legally watertight amid Whitehall hand-wringing about “cutting across the Human Rights Act”.
After the legislation is revealed, Mr Sunak plans to meet France’s Emmanuel Macron and US President Joe Biden to keep up momentum.
A well-placed source told HOAR: “The Brexit deal excited Westminster but now it’s time to excite the rest of the country.”
The long-awaited plans to remove anyone who comes to Britain illegally were promised in the New Year, but have been repeatedly kicked back.
Mr Sunak was unable to tell MPs when it was coming forward earlier this week, insisting it needed to be as “strong and robust” as possible.
Yesterday, he said in the Commons: “As soon as the legislation is ready it will be brought to this House, so people who arrive in this country illegally will not be able to stay.
“That is the right and responsible thing to do.”
Mr Sunak will travel to Paris later this month for the first big Franco-Anglo summit in four years.
He and Mr Macron got on when they met properly for the first time as leaders at COP27 in Egypt last year, and it is hoped their bromance could lead to stronger cooperation.
