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Senior officials claim the Prime Minister wants to tear up the rule book in a bid to end the tide of people crossing the Channel in small boats. He is driving ahead with new laws that would completely remove the right to asylum here for all illegal entrants.<\/p>\n
But furious Whitehall insiders have vowed to torpedo the plan, claiming it \u201cdrives a coach and horses\u201d through the 1951 Refugee Convention. And last night the Home Office was understood to be urgently considering legal advice.<\/p>\n
The clash between Downing Street and Home Office mandarins comes after Mr Sunak staked his reputation on tackling the Channel crisis which saw 45,756 landing illegally last year.<\/p>\n
The PM and Home Secretary Suella Braverman are expected to announce new legislation in the next few weeks to ensure migrants are \u201cdetained and swiftly removed\u201d \u2013 and also unable to exploit the asylum system.<\/p>\n
But a highly placed source has made it clear they will face intense internal opposition from Home Office staff.<\/p>\n
The insider said: \u201cThe Prime Minister\u2019s plan will drive a coach and horses through asylum law.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past, such schemes have been mooted by home secretaries and we\u2019ve managed to stall them by dragging our feet or pointing out the problems.<\/p>\n
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\u201cNow it seems it\u2019s all being driven by No 10. He\u2019s going to have some serious battles on his hands.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Sunak is adamant \u201cenough is enough\u201d and claims that Britain\u2019s courts are being exploited by people who have no right to stay in the UK.<\/p>\n
He has pledged that people will be \u201cswiftly returned\u201d to either their homeland or a \u201csafe country\u201d where their claim for asylum will then be considered.<\/p>\n
In the past few months Mr Sunak has buried himself in the detail of the immigration and asylum crisis, reading the small print of 400 separate case studies.<\/p>\n
Seizing personal control of the crisis, he will demonstrate his determination to deliver \u2013 but risks serious clashes with the Whitehall \u201cblob\u201d.<\/p>\n
Last month, he said people who entered the UK illegally and have been removed will have \u201cno right to re-entry, settlement, or citizenship\u201d.<\/p>\n
Seizing personal control of the crisis, the PM will demonstrate his determination to deliver \u2013 but risks serious clashes with Whitehall.<\/p>\n
But there is concern within its corridors that the changes may even contravene the 1951 Refugee Convention.<\/p>\n
It is a United Nations treaty that defines who a refugee is and sets out the rights of individuals who are granted asylum.<\/p>\n
The Convention also lays out the responsibilities of nations that grant asylum \u2013 and states which people do not qualify as refugees.<\/p>\n
Refugee Council chief Enver Solomon is among those who warn the Government is \u201cflying in the face of international law\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cWhat we need is a fair process for people seeking safety from war and persecution.<\/p>\n
\u201cWithout safe routes such as a refugee visa scheme, they have no choice but to take these dangerous journeys.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Prime Minister should set out concrete plans to expand these routes through a resettlement programme or an expansion in family reunion visas.<\/p>\n
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\u201cInstead, this government wants to treat people who come to the UK in search of safety as criminals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis flies in the face of international law and the UK\u2019s commitment as a signatory of the UN Convention on Refugees to give a fair hearing to people who come here in search of safety and protection.\u201d<\/p>\n
But last night, a source close to Ms Braverman said the Home Secretary is \u201c100 per cent clear that we must stop the boats\u201d.<\/p>\n
The source added: \u201cThe British people won\u2019t tolerate sticking plasters or forgive failed plans.<\/p>\n
And that\u2019s why the she is determined to drive through reforms which will have a real impact on
illegal migration and bring a stop to this patently unfair asylum system.\u201d<\/p>\n
Part of the Government\u2019s response to bringing the Channel crisis \u201cunder a single integrated structure\u201d is the new small boats operational command at Border Force.<\/p>\n
It will be led by former Sandhurst commandant Duncan Capps while a permanent director is recruited.<\/p>\n
New technology will be used to identify the pilots of small boats and \u201cbring those responsible to justice\u201d.<\/p>\n
A Government spokesman said: \u201cLast year we saw an unsustainable and unacceptable number of people risking their lives to reach the UK illegally.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis simply cannot continue and that is why we are taking immediate steps to tackle the evil people-smuggling gangs behind these deadly crossings and get our immigration system under control.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe return of Channel primacy to the Home Office, bolstered by 700 extra staff and led by director Duncan Capps, is a significant landmark in our long-term plan to ensure the safety and sovereignty of our borders and our communities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are building on the progress already made through the deal with France. Our determination will not waiver until we stop the abuse of the asylum system and bring the
smugglers responsible to justice.\u201d<\/p>\n