Rishi Sunak described getting the measures on the statute book as an urgent national priority this morning after overcoming a revolt to force it through the Commons.
Dozens of people could be seen packed on to a tiny dinghy as it struggled off the coast of Kent, dwarfed by ferries and cargo vessels in the busy shipping lane.
A Commons defeat on the Bill s Third Reading tonight would have delivered a seismic blow to Mr Sunak s premiership and possibly brought down his Government.