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POLITICS LATEST: RISHI SUNAK UNVEILS FIVE-POINT PLAN TO TACKLE MIGRATION - AS
DOWNING STREET CLARIFIES PLEDGE TO CLEAR ASYLUM CLAIMS BACKLOG

Rishi Sunak sets out his plan to tackle migration and clear the asylum claims
backlog by the end of next year; Transport Secretary Mark Harper speaks to Sky
News as widespread rail strikes begin.

 * LIVE
 * Rishi Sunak
 * Strikes

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Why you can trust Sky News

KEY POINTS

 * PM unveils five-point plan to tackle migration and pledges to clear backlog
   of asylum claims  View post
 * Rishi Sunak says he'll press on with Rwanda deportation flights and pledges
   new laws to tackle illegal migration  View post
 * Clarification from Number 10 on PM's asylum backlog pledge  View post
 * Amanda Akass: Announcements show PM determined to demonstrate tackling
   Channel crossings a key priority  View post
 * PM tells cabinet strikes will be 'challenging' to get through as latest wave
   of industrial action on railways begins  View post
 * Ali Fortescue: Focus has shifted from averting strikes to mitigating
   impact  View post
   
 * Who is on strike today?  View post | Which railways are affected  View post
 * Poll analysis suggests Conservatives could lose 296 seats - but 'caution'
   urged over results  View post
   
 * Live updates by Tim Baker

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Latest Sort by latest Oldest Sort by oldest

3m ago 17:28


PM'S ASYLUM BACKLOG CLAIM 'ALREADY FALLING APART'

Labour has claimed that Rishi Sunak's pledge on the asylum backlog is "already
falling apart".

It comes after Downing Street said the prime minister's claim that the
government will clear the backlog in asylum cases by the end of next year only
applies to claims made before June (see 16.17 post).

Reacting to this, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper said: "The prime minister
doesn't even know what he's promised today.

"This claim to be able to tackle the backlog by the end of the year is already
falling apart just hours after he made it.

"No one trusts the Conservatives to fix the asylum system they've broken over
the last 12 years."


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15m ago 17:16


NO NUMBER FOR ANNUAL QUOTA OF ASYLUM CLAIMS AT THIS STAGE - NUMBER 10

We heard earlier from Rishi Sunak that there will be an annual quota for asylum
seekers coming to the UK via safe and legal routes.

Speaking to reporters this afternoon, the prime minister's spokesman said no
number has been set for this. 

"We haven't put out a number," he said.


"Obviously the first priority is to get a grip on the number making these
illegal crossings. 

"It is once that we have that more under control, then we will be able to set
out the numbers."



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1h ago 16:30


PODCAST: WHY ARE ALBANIANS COMING TO BRITAIN?

Much has been made by the prime minister of cracking down on the number of
Albanian people who come to Britain in small boats.

But why exactly are Albanians coming to the UK?

On this edition of the Sky News Daily podcast with Niall Paterson, we follow
those who have made the journey, and ask what impact immigration to Britain will
have Albania's economy.



Click to subscribe to the Sky News Daily wherever you get your podcasts

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1h ago 16:17


CLARIFICATION FROM DOWNING STREET ON PM'S ASYLUM BACKLOG PLEDGE

Rishi Sunak's claim to clear the backlog in asylum cases by the end of next year
only applies to claims made before June, Number 10 has said.

The prime minister's official spokesman told reporters this totalled 92,601
initial asylum claims.


"That relates to claims made before the Nationality and Borders Bill came into
force."

Asked why Mr Sunak was not promising to clear the backlog in its entirety, the
spokesman said: "It wouldn't be right to prioritise those more recent claims, it
would be right to focus on the legacy claims that predate the introduction of
the Act."

There is no deadline to clear the entire backlog, the spokesman indicated.


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1h ago 16:10


PM'S PLAN TO TACKLE MIGRATION EXPLAINED

The prime minister has unveiled a new five-point plan to tackle illegal
immigration that specifically targets people arriving from Albania.

Rishi Sunak told the Commons on Tuesday that "enough is enough" and that the
system is "not fair".

Sky News takes a closer look at what's in the PM's plan:

WHAT IS RISHI SUNAK'S FIVE-POINT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION PLAN - AND WHY DOES IT
TARGET ALBANIANS?

Sky News


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1h ago 15:50


WITHOUT BETTER OPPORTUNITIES AT HOME, MANY WILL KEEP LOOKING FOR A FUTURE
OUTSIDE ALBANIA

by Siobhan Robbins, Europe correspondent

As soon as information about the prime minister's new tough line on Albanians
coming illegally to the UK began to trickle out I contacted people I'd met on my
last reporting trip to see if it would stop them trying again.

"Never gonna stop" was the reply from a man I met in one of the most deprived
areas of the country. 

He had paid smugglers to bring him to England on two occasions. 

Once he arrived he worked illegally before eventually being detected and
deported.

Another contact was in France where he had been caught recently trying to
smuggle himself over under a truck. 

He is currently waiting to be sent back to Albania. He told me "I'm going to my
country, Albania, [then] we try again to come in France and after UK."

Both of these men come from the poorest parts of one of the most deprived
countries in Europe and while Rishi Sunak's announcement may mean Albanians who
don't get asylum are deported more quickly, it doesn't solve the issues which
push people to leave in the first place.

Poverty and lack of opportunity are the main reasons young men told us they were
going.

"They have nothing to lose," a charity worker told me today as we discussed the
announcement.

For example, a plumber said he could earn around 15 euros a day working at home
versus more than 120 euros in the UK.

So what's the solution?  "More work visas", suggested the charity worker who has
followed the news about labour shortages in areas from construction to
agriculture.  

His view: people are going to come anyway, so why not tax them and get them
paying into the system like the thousands of Albanians already living legally in
the UK?

At the same time you fill the gaps in the labour market, ease the pressure on
the asylum system and take the power away from smugglers, he reasoned.

That idea would be hard to sell to some Conservative voters.

One thing's for sure, without better opportunities at home, many will keep
looking for a future outside Albania.


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2h ago 15:31


SUNAK VISITS SMALL BOATS COMMAND OPERATIONS ROOM FOLLOWING MIGRATION PLAN
ANNOUNCEMENT

The prime minster has visited the operations room of the new small boats command
in London.

The measure was part of the five-point plan Rishi Sunak announced in the Commons
earlier to reduce the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats. 

Mr Sunak met staff and was shown examples of the drone technology used to
monitor the Channel.

The PM was told that on one say this year, the UK and France had managed to stop
60% of the 801 attempted crossings.

Mr Sunak said this showed the improved co-operation with Paris was "paying huge
dividends".


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2h ago 15:00


GOVERNMENT IMMIGRATION PLAN A 'LAST-DITCH SCRAMBLE TO KEEP BACKBENCHERS HAPPY' -
LABOUR

Labour's shadow immigration minister, Stephen Kinnock, has branded Rishi Sunak's
immigration plan a "last-ditch scramble to keep backbenchers happy".

Mr Sunak's five-point plan was announced in the House of Commons arlier (see
12.33 post).

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Kinnock highlighted that the Conservatives have been in
power for 12 years, saying they have been "twiddling their thumbs" as the
backlogs in the asylum and migration systems grew.

He said: "It is a complete and utter abdication of the responsibility of
government to lose control of our borders like that and to send the invoice to
the British taxpayer. 

"What we've seen well, as well, of course, is lots of gimmicks like the Rwanda
scheme, which is unworkable, unethical and unaffordable. 

"And now they're talking about bringing more legislation forward, having just
had the Nationality and Borders Act, which is several hundred pages of
legislation, which apparently doesn't seem to be working because they've got to
bring even more legislation forward. 

"So what we're seeing, I think, is a situation where the government is now just
desperately making a last-ditch scramble to keep some of their backbenchers
happy and bringing forward yet more gimmicky and unworkable proposals."



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2h ago 14:45


ANNOUNCEMENTS SHOW THE PM IS DETERMINED TO DEMONSTRATE TACKLING NUMBERS CROSSING
THE CHANNEL IS A KEY PRIORITY

The Conservatives have been promising to "take back control" of our borders for
years.

But with record numbers of migrants making the perilous journey across the
English Channel in small boats - nearly 45,000 since January, including over 500
this weekend - the prime minister has been under huge pressure to show that he
has a plan to deal with the numbers.

He's clearly determined to show the issue is a key priority.

That's why Rishi Sunak himself made the announcement in the House of Commons
today - presenting this platform of policies as a break with the "obsolete"
global asylum system of the past.

He insisted his government's central pledge - to send all illegal migrants back
home or to a safe third country - is "not cruel or unkind" but a question of
"fairness".

Labour argue his promises contained nothing new - Sir Keir Starmer told MPs the
prime minister's rhetoric is designed to "mask failure and distract from our
broken asylum system".

Mr Sunak says his package of measures -including the deal with Albania to
expedite returning asylum seekers, doubling the number of caseworkers, hiring
more staff to tackle the small boats crisis, and raising the bar for modern
slavery cases - will end the backlog of asylum cases by the end of next year.

Labour clearly don't believe the government will be able to deliver on this
promise, which is why Sir Keir was so determined to highlight the scale of the
backlog - nearly 150,000 people waiting for a decision, with just 2% of cases
being processed in the past year.

It's quite a deadline to hit so close to the date of the likely next general
election.


There is outrage at this tough approach from many human rights groups - the
Liberal Democrats have accused the government of weakening the protection for
victims of human trafficking, and the Green MP Caroline Lucas was incandescent -
accusing the government of a "sickening crackdown on those fleeing war and
terror".

But the Conservative backbenchers - some of whom have been critical of the
government's perceived "lack of grip" on the issue - welcomed the plan, cheering
on the prime minister's announcements and accusing the opposition of a lack of
"specific proposals" of their own.

The plan to halve the daily £5.5m cost of accommodation for asylum seekers by
expanding the use of disused holiday parks, university accommodation and
military bases has gone down particularly well among some MPs angry at the use
of hotel accommodation in their constituencies (even if the previous use of
run-down army barracks - like Napier in Folkestone - ended up being mired in
controversy). 

And on a day of strikes bringing much of the country to a grinding halt - the
government will clearly hope that announcing such a headline policy will enable
them to wrest back control of the headlines, at the very least.


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2h ago 14:45


POLL ANALYSIS SUGGESTS CONSERVATIVES COULD LOSE 296 SEATS - BUT 'CAUTION' URGED
OVER RESULTS

A new poll analysis has estimated the Conservatives could lose as many as 296
seats at a general election.

However, one of the analysts who carried out the research said the actual result
of a vote in 2024 could look very different.

The research carried out by Savanta used an MRP model - Multi-level Regression
and Post-stratification.

This uses information from polls about how different demographics vote to
predict how constituencies are likely to swing in an election.

It is the first such MRP carried out by Savanta since Labour took a sizeable
lead over the Tories in recent months, although there is an indication this may
be waning - see our 11.01am post for more.

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According to Savanta: "The poll shows that the Conservative Party would be
likely wiped out in much of the north of England, with the model suggesting that
the party would not hold a single seat north of Lincolnshire, while also losing
all of the seats in London, and conceding many seats in the South West to Labour
and the Liberal Democrats.

"The SNP gain an extra seven seats according to the model, leaving them with all
bar four of Scotland's 59 Westminster constituencies, while the Liberal
Democrats would increase their parliamentary representation to their highest
level since 2010, including gaining Dominic Raab's Esher and Walton seat."

Chris Hopkins, the political research director at Savanta, said: "Last time we
published an MRP model, I spoke of both the potential and precarious nature of
the 56-seat majority and 12-point lead the poll gave the Labour Party during
their conference. 

"Even the most optimistic Labour supporter would not have foreseen what was to
come, such was the subsequent Conservative collapse, and therefore this latest
MRP model reflects the position now, of two parties experiencing widely
differing electoral fortunes."

"But we must still express caution. 

"Many seats going to Labour in this model, including a few that could be deemed
'Red Wall', still indicate a 40% or higher chance of remaining Conservative, and
while that would have little impact on the overall election result, it does show
that if Rishi Sunak can keep narrowing that Labour lead, point-by-point, the
actual results come 2024 could look very different to this nowcast model."


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3h ago 14:30


CONSERVATIVE MP RESPONDS TO BANKRUPTCY

As we reported earlier, Tory MP Adam Afriyie was declared bankrupt by a judge
earlier today - see 11.55am post.

A hearing heard that the matter had been before the courts six times already.

Mr Afriyie was said to owe Barclays bank £700,000 and HM Revenue & Customs £1m,
and had been trying to sell a property to settle the debts.

After the proceedings, the MP said: "This has been ongoing for many years
following business failures some time ago.

"I am ultimately responsible for some of the bank borrowing through personal
guarantee.

"I've been trying to sell our home and downsize for some time, but it's a tough
market.

"It is a stressful time and it'll be tough for a while, but I'm far from the
only person in a difficult position, and I will continue to do my best to
support my constituents until the next general election, when I'll be standing
down."

Read more from political reporter Jennifer Scott here:

TORY MP ADAM AFRIYIE MADE BANKRUPT AFTER COURT HEARS HE OWES £1.7M

Sky News


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3h ago 14:00


RECAP: PM PROMISES NEW LAWS TO STOP ILLEGAL MIGRATION AND 'SPURIOUS' APPEALS

Rishi Sunak has promised to bring in new laws to tackle illegal immigration,
saying anyone who comes to the UK illegally will not be allowed to stay.

Making a raft of announcements in the Commons, the prime minister said the
legislation would be introduced early next year and mean people who do not come
to the country through legal and safe routes "will be detained and swiftly
returned either to [their] home country or a safe country where [their] asylum
claim will be considered".

He said those coming illegally would "no longer be able to frustrate removal
attempts with late or spurious claims or appeals" and, once removed from the UK,
"should have no right to re-entry settlement or citizenship".

The PM also announced the government would be restarting its controversial
flights to Rwanda, and had agreed a deal with Albania to return all its citizens
who come to the UK across the Channel in small boats.

And he said MPs would soon be able to set an annual quota "to determine our
capacity" to offer refuge to asylum seekers.

"The solution shouldn't just be what works, but what is right," said Mr Sunak.
"It is unfair people come here illegally."

He added: "Enough is enough."

You can read more from political reporter Jennifer Scott here:

RISHI SUNAK PROMISES NEW LAWS TO STOP ILLEGAL MIGRATION AND 'SPURIOUS' APPEALS

Sky News

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3h ago 13:55


PM TELLS CABINET STRIKES WILL BE 'CHALLENGING' TO GET THROUGH

Rishi Sunak held a cabinet meeting this morning, bringing together his top
ministers.

In a readout released by Downing Street, it was said that the PM warned his
colleagues the country is "facing significant industrial action across a range
of sectors this winter and that this is going to be a challenging period to get
through".

Mr Sunak went on to say the government had been "fair and reasonable" in the way
it approached pay recommendations from independent bodies.

The readout of the meeting added: "[The PM] said while the government will do
all we can to minimise disruption, the only way we stop it completely is by
unions going back round the table and calling off these strikes. 

" The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster then updated cabinet on the work that
departments have been doing to mitigate some of the disruption that people will
face. 

"He said the government would continue to engage with unions but that the
double-digit pay demands were not affordable - with an estimated cost of £28bn
or an extra £1,000 per household for inflation-matching pay increases for all
public sector workers in the UK in 2023/24."

The veracity of this figure has been questioned, with economist Ben Zaranko of
the Institute for Fiscal Studies saying the £1,000 per household claim "paints
an incomplete picture" as it does not take into account all the necessary
factors for such a prediction.

Mr Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman then updated the meeting on the
migration plans announced this afternoon.


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3h ago 13:39


LIB DEMS ACCUSE SUNAK OF 'WEAKENING CRUCIAL PROTECTIONS' FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING
VICTIMS

The Liberal Democrats have accused Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of "weakening
crucial protections" for the victims of human trafficking.

Responding to Mr Sunak's statement, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: "We all
want to stop the dangerous Channel crossings and tackle the evil gangs who
profit from people smuggling and human trafficking.

"The problem is, everything this Conservative government has done has only made
it worse.

"Weakening crucial protections for victims of human trafficking and modern
slavery will do nothing to tackle the asylum backlog or stop dangerous Channel
crossings. 

"It will only hand more power to the traffickers and slavers.

"The UK has a proud history of providing sanctuary to people fleeing war and
persecution. 

"The government must uphold that important British tradition."


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4h ago 13:30


NHS COULD BE LEFT USING TAXIS AMID AMBULANCE STRIKES, DOWNING STREET ADMITS

The NHS could be left using taxis to transport people amid the upcoming
ambulance strikes, Downing Street admitted earlier.

Asked about reports that firms had been block-booked for during the industrial
action, the prime minister's official spokesperson said that ambulances would
respond to 999 calls.

They conceded that for calls which were not life-threatening, alternative
support was available - including taxis if an NHS trust decides that is
appropriate.

During the morning briefing with political journalists, the spokesperson also
said it would not be right for the government to impose itself on the
independent pay review process by offering more money than what is recommended.

In its letter this year to the body which recommends pay to teachers, the
government recommended the body "take into account" the Conservative's manifesto
promise "to uplift starting salaries to £30,000".

The spokesperson also said: 

 * The cause of the challenging economic circumstances mainly come from Russia
   and the pandemic
 * They wouldn't speculate on public support for strikes, but the government
   believes it is taking the responsible course
 * All secretaries of state have their doors open for new talks with unions 
 * The government would not tell private companies what raises to give their
   employees
 * It is up to the unions to end the strikes
 * More COBRA meetings will take place this week
 * While this is a "challenging period", they did not admit the UK was in crisis


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4h ago 13:16


MP REPRIMANDED FOR SEEMINGLY TAKING PHOTO

There was a break in Mr Suank's statement earlier as Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay
Hoyle reprimanded Conservative MP Ben Bradley for seemingly taking a picture.

Interrupting the speech, Sir Lindsay said: "Somebody flashed a camera then. It's
quite serious to take photographs in the chamber."

He told Mr Bradley to leave, delete the picture and talk to the Sergeant at
Arms.

The MP for Mansfield was not sitting on the MPs' benches but was in a small area
at the back which is usually reserved for MPs' guests or MPs when there are not
enough seats.

He was seen showing his phone to the Sergeant at Arms, who was seemingly
satisfied with what was shown to him.



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4h ago 13:09


'NOBODY IS ILLEGAL', SNP'S WESTMINSTER LEADER SAYS, AND ASKS WHAT ADVICE
GOVERNMENT SOUGHT ON NEW MEASURES

Stephen Flynn, the SNP's leader in Westminster, starts his question by stating
that "nobody is illegal".

He adds that "there is no such thing as an illegal asylum seeker".

Mr Flynn goes on to ask whether the government consulted with the UN High
Commissioner for Refugees on the plan they unveiled today.

He also queried whether the PM could name a single safe and legal route for an
asylum seeker.

Mr Sunak says the "development secretary" - probably the development minister
Andrew Mitchell - spoke to the commissioner last weekend.

He raises the point that the Conservatives focus on having internal support in
the UK rather than external permission.

Mr Sunak says the UK is moving to act in line with "almost every other European
country" with regard to Albanian migrants, and highlights asylum paths for
Afghans, Syrians, Hong Kongers and Ukrainians.


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4h ago 13:03


MAY RAISES QUESTION ABOUT MODERN SLAVERY ACT

 Former prime minister Theresa May asks the prime minister about his reference
to her passing of the Modern Slavery Act.


She said: "Does he agree with me that in dealing with asylum claims, the onus
must be on the Home Office to improve its processing?

"That contrary to what is said by some commentators and sadly some members of
this house, people smuggling and human trafficking are distinct and separate
crimes and should not be treated or spoken of as one?

"And that modern slavery is a very real and current threat with too many people
brought to this country into slavery and that we must do nothing to diminish our
world-leading protections for the victims of this terrible, horrific crime?"

Mr Sunak praised Ms May's "global leadership on this issue" and said "she is
absolutely right it is incumbent on us to ensure that our processing is swift
and effective".

He continues: "But I know she will want to join me in ensuring our world-leading
Modern Slavery regime actually helps the people who are most in need, who are
most vulnerable, they are the people that need our support and that's what our
reforms today will deliver."



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4h ago 13:00


'WE ARE THE ONLY PARTY WITH A PLAN' SUNAK RESPONDS TO LABOUR

Rishi Sunak has a big grin on his face as he defends his policy from Sir Keir
Starmer's attacks.

With cheers coming from his own backbenchers, the prime minister begins by using
the lines which will likely be used as his party goes forward.

This includes saying "the only way to stop the problem is to stop the boats",
and "we are the only party that has a plan to tackle these issues".

Mr Sunak's backbenches are full and sound boisterous, whereas the opposition
side is a little more sparsely populated.


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4h ago 12:53


STARMER ACCUSES SUNAK OF 'UNWORKABLE GIMMICK'

 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said Channel crossings are a "serious
problem requiring serious solutions".

Responding to Mr Sunak's plan to tackle illegal immigration, Sir Keir said "time
and time again this government has not provided serious solutions" and accused
Mr Sunak of putting forward "unworkable gimmick".

He said all of the prime minister's statement had been said "word for word"
before with "no effective action - all designed to mask failure, to distract
from a broken asylum system that can't process claims, can't return those with
no right to be here and can't protect our borders".

He called on the prime minister to clear the immigration backlog of 150,000
cases by the end of next year.

He said: "It's appalling they let the backlog get this big. Nearly 100,000 cases
have been waiting more than six months for a decision."

Sir Keir also said money is "being wasted on the unworkable, unethical plan" to
deport people to Rwanda. He said £140m had been "wasted already" with "not a
single deportation".

"It doesn't even work as a deterrent," he said.

"The last time the government legislated to tackle the broken asylum system they
made it worse. Since the Nationality and Borders Act came into force, crossings
and delays have increased."

Concluding, he said: "The unworkable gimmicks go on and so do the crossings. 

"We need to bring this to an end, that means a proper plan to crack down on the
gangs, quick processing, return agreements, serious solutions to a serious
problem, and that is what Labour will offer."



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