I was more than happy to vote for the measures in this new Bill and deliver on promises to my North Cornwall constituents on immigration and borders. I am particularly pleased that strong sentences will be placed on people smugglers as this is an abhorrent practice that destroys lives.
As Government Whip for the Home Office, I have been involved in discussions with colleagues about what they would like to see from this legislation. It was clear to me that they wanted a fair and open process for legal migration but a robust system that deals firmly with those who have entered the UK illegally or considering coming here via illegal means.
I believe the Nationality and Borders Bill provides a firm but fair asylum process and helps deliver on our pledge to return full control of the UK's borders back into the hands of the British people. This legislation accompanies our post-Brexit measures on legal asylum, which does not discriminate against the rest of the world in favour of EU immigration as with our previous system.
