Just 1% of Small Boat Migrants Returned
Only one percent of migrants who arrived in small boats across the English Channel have been removed from Britain, according to recent reports. The figures highlight the scale of illegal immigration and have prompted hardline Tory MPs to demand action from ministers and officials.
£22 Million Cost of Asylum Barge Revealed
The Home Office has disclosed the eye-watering cost of the Bibby Stockholm asylum barge, which is approximately £22 million. This equates to around £205 per migrant per night so far. The revelation comes amidst discussions of immigration bills and attempts by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to unite Conservative backbenchers behind his immigration blueprint.
Only 1,182 Migrants Returned since 2020
Figures show that out of nearly 110,000 migrants who have arrived in the UK via small boats in the past three years, only 1,182 have been sent back. This return rate of one percent highlights the challenge faced by the government in addressing illegal immigration. The majority of those removed were from Albania, with only 420 non-Albanians being sent back over the same period.
Calls for Stronger Deterrents
Tory MPs have expressed their dissatisfaction with the low number of migrants being sent back and have called for a robust deterrent to address the issue. They are pushing for the Rwanda policy to be implemented at scale to combat illegal immigration effectively.
£22.4 Million Cost of Housing Migrants in Barge
The cost of housing migrants in the Bibby Stockholm barge currently stands at £22.4 million. This alternative accommodation was intended to alleviate the strain on costly hotels. The price of housing migrants in hotels is approximately £8 million per day and is projected to rise to £32 million if the migrant problem persists.
Migrant Children Missing from Hotels
Ministers have disclosed that 132 out of the 154 migrant children who disappeared from hotels last summer are still missing. Of the 132 missing children, 103 have reached adulthood, while 29 are still underage.
PM Aims to Crack Down on Channel Crossings
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is determined to address the issue of Channel crossings and has witnessed a one-third reduction in such crossings during his tenure. He remains committed to the Rwanda plan and aims to implement removal flights to further tackle illegal immigration.
Conservative Party United on Rwanda Plan
Home Secretary James Cleverly has reassured the public that the Conservative Party is united in its objective to pass the Rwanda plan. Despite concerns from right-wing Tories, Cleverly stressed the importance of not "killing the bill" as it would undermine the entire Rwanda policy.
