The people of Dover and Deal are compassionate, and know that our country should be firm but fair when it comes to immigration.
We know that those genuinely fleeing persecution deserve protection.
MP Mike Tapp says new Immigration and Asylum Bill is “an important moment”
But we also know that the current asylum system is not working.
It has lost the confidence of the public, it has placed huge pressure on taxpayers, and it has too often rewarded criminal gangs who profit from putting lives at risk in the Channel.
That is why the Immigration and Asylum Bill is such an important moment.
The legislation is designed to restore fairness to the system by speeding up the removal of people who have no legal right to remain in the UK once all appeals have been exhausted.
It will also tighten the way age assessments are carried out, including new technology to help prevent adults falsely claiming to be children, while making changes to reduce repeated legal challenges that delay decisions for months or even years.
Mike Tapp is MP for Dover and Deal
The Bill also seeks to reform the asylum appeals process and limit late claims under modern slavery legislation that are judged to be made purely to frustrate removal.
These are not easy decisions, but they are necessary ones.
For too long, communities like ours have carried a disproportionate share of the pressures created by illegal Channel crossings.
Every successful crossing represents a victory for vile criminal smuggling gangs who have no regard for human life.
We have seen the tragic consequences of these dangerous journeys all too often.
I believe we can be both firm and fair.
Britain should always meet its international obligations and offer sanctuary to those who genuinely need it.
But we should also be clear that if someone’s claim is refused after due process, they should leave the country promptly.
A system that cannot enforce its own decisions is not fair – to taxpayers, to local communities or to those who follow the rules.
For Dover and Deal, securing our border is about more than immigration policy.
It is about protecting our coastline, supporting our emergency services and ensuring that local residents can have confidence that the system is working in the national interest.
No single Bill will solve every challenge overnight. Breaking the business model of the people-smuggling gangs will continue to require close cooperation with France and other international partners, stronger law enforcement and faster decision-making here at home.
But this legislation is an important step in the right direction.
The people of Dover and Deal expect a government that is prepared to take difficult decisions, restore order to the asylum system and put fairness back at the heart of immigration policy. That is what I believe this Bill is intended to achieve.
Our constituency has always stood at Britain’s front door.
We understand better than most the importance of secure borders, a fair asylum system and an immigration policy that commands public confidence.
That is why I welcome the opportunity for Parliament to debate these proposals and why I will continue to champion the interests of Dover and Deal every step of the way.