Jonathan Gullis MP: 'Asylum dispersal is taking our city's generosity for granted'

MP Jonathan Gullis, who represents Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke, has had his say on the Government's stance on immigration in his Personally Speaking column for The Sentinel.

"More than 45,000 people illegally crossed the Channel in small boats last year, putting pressure on local public services and abusing our laws and asylum protections to remain here - and costing the taxpayers £6 million per day.

"In Stoke-on-Trent, we have 1,279 asylum seekers and illegal economic migrants. In some cases, there’s one asylum seeker for every 30 people, as is the case in the Etruria and Hanley ward – this is 500% higher than the Home Office’s target of one in every 200.

READ: Helicopter scrambled as police smash into 'stolen' car on Stoke-on-Trent estate

"Stoke-on-Trent’s famous generosity is being taken for granted. Despite being a voluntary member of the asylum dispersal scheme, we are taking on a disproportionate number of illegal economic migrants.

"From speaking to people in Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke, they are adamant that if you come here illegally, you have no right to be here.

"The business models of the abhorrent people smuggling gangs need to be broken. Last year’s Nationality and Borders Act introduced the offshoring scheme in Rwanda which was designed to deter anyone seeking to come here illegally.

"However, left-wing immigration lawyers issued last minute injunctions and stopped the flights taking off.

"The Prime Minister has rightly made stopping the boats one of his five key policies. Through the Illegal Migration Bill, the Government have taken important steps forward to finally take back control of our borders and get the flights off the ground.

Stoke-on-Trent North MP Jonathan Gullis speaking in the Commons

"Last week, I tabled and supported a series of amendments that are designed to help the Prime Minister stop the boats.

"We are concerned that the Illegal Migration Bill can be exploited by left-wing lawyers who can find loopholes that prevent us introducing the strong approach to illegal migration.

"One of the key amendments, looks to prevent judges in the European Court of Human Rights issuing last minute Rule 39 Orders that prevented the last flights to Rwanda taking off.

"It will stop unelected judges in Strasbourg undermining decisions made in our sovereign parliament and restore our ability to control our borders.

"One of my amendments ensures that people who are sent to Rwanda stay there. If we do not have this written into legislation, lawyers can mount legal challenges and return illegal migrants to the UK.

"In Stoke-on-Trent, we know that continuing to house illegal migrants in hotels is unacceptable. The North Stafford Hotel, right in front of the main railway station, is not appropriate.

"That’s why I have also tabled an amendment restricting the use of hotels. The amendment will ensure that hotels at the very heart of communities cannot be used to house those who come here illegally.

"Our amendments are designed to make the Bill legally watertight, so we can get the flights to Rwanda off the ground and deter those who seek to come here illegally.

"Over Easter, my colleagues and I look forward to working constructively with the Government to ensure that the Illegal Migration Bill stops the boats and delivers on the public’s desire to take back control of our borders. What has become abundantly clear is that the Conservatives have a plan to stop the boats whilst Labour want open borders.

"The Labour Party are the party of open borders and uncontrolled immigration. Sir Keir Starmer has voted 36 times to oppose our plans to strengthen our asylum rules.

"He even fought against Tony Blair’s plans to strip asylum seekers of their benefits in 2003. Most importantly, Sir Keir signed a letter to the Government in 2020 stopping over 50 foreign criminals being deported, one of these thugs was arrested a little over a year later for dealing Class A drugs.

"It shows that Labour can’t be trusted to keep our streets safe from foreign criminals.

"However, while the national Labour Party are happy to admit that they are pro-open borders, Stoke-on-Trent Labour keep deadly quiet because they know their views are completely opposed to the people of our great city. They should listen to people who are fed up with being told they can’t say they want tougher immigration laws and robust borders.

"I am determined to help the Prime Minister deliver on his pledge to stop the boats, because I know that if we fail to do this, we will pay the price at the next election."

Want to tell us about something going on where you live? Let us know - Tweet us @SOTLive or message us on our Facebook page . And if you have pictures to share, tag us on Instagram at StokeonTrentLive.