with turkey, returns agreement with places like albania and crossings on the channel down by a third. we have action taking hundreds of people arrested who have been part of a legal all involved in trafficking here in the uk as well. this is the next step on that, this will be the top is legislation that has ever been brought forward by a british government to tackle illegal immigration and that is what we are really focusing on today —— top as legislation. we heard from keir starmer early on, he doesn't back the plan. his only plan is to borrow £28 million a year more. which would go into higher taxes for everyone in the country. he wants open borders, he opposes our rwanda bill today because he is not interested in controlling illegal immigration and what we are really trying to assert colleagues at the moment is that this is a very important next step in exactly what we are trying to do, which is tackle illegal migration across the channel.— which is tackle illegal migration across the channel. you're talking about tackling _ across the channel. you're talking about tackling illegal _ across the channel. you're talking about tackling illegal migration, l about tackling illegal migration, but this really has turned into a vote into the status of the conservative party. and you mentioned sir keir starmer. he says the conservative party is making the country part of this internal psychodrama. do you understand his point, which is it is exposing the weaknesses of the conservative party when they should be governing the country? when they should be governing the count ? , , ., , . when they should be governing the count? , , . ., country? this is our third piece of im ortant country? this is our third piece of important legislation _ country? this is our third piece of important legislation ratcheting l country? this is our third piece of| important legislation ratcheting up those controls on illegal migration. this is exactly part of that plan. keir starmer doesn't have a plan to deal with illegal migration. back in the day, he said all immigration controls were racist, he has opposed every single measure we have brought forward to stop the boats and stop people dying in the channel. and in his speech today when he was talking he didn't really even talk about this stuff. he didn't even mention his own plans for an extra £28 billion of borrowing a year. he is the only person who will benefit tonight from any issues around is not supporting this legislation. we need to be united as a party and get behind the prime minister and deliver the toughest ever migration controls. but deliver the toughest ever migration controls. �* , ., ., , , controls. but “ust to answer my question. — controls. butjust to answer my question, please. _ controls. butjust to answer my question, please. you - controls. butjust to answer my question, please. you talk - controls. butjust to answer my question, please. you talk a i controls. butjust to answer myi question, please. you talk a lot about illegal immigration, but this really is shaping up to be a vote on the party's confidence in the prime minister, his authority over the party, just answer that point. this party, “ust answer that point. this is a party, just answer that point. this is a vote about _ party, just answer that point. ti 3 is a vote about illegal immigration and weather winner take the next step in really trying to control it. these are the toughest measures ever. listen to the former warlords who have been commenting on this —— and whether to take the next step. lord sumption and lord wolfson, highly respected legal experts who say this is the topless legislation that has ever been brought forward. i hope colleagues see that for what it is, a top plan to really crackdown on illegal migration. and also, that they see the alternative is put out by keir starmer today. extra borrowing which means more taxes for every family in the country and an open door approach to illegal and legal migration. that is the difference between the conservative party and labour party and i really hope my colleagues today really think about that before casting their votes this afternoon and evening. casting their votes this afternoon and evening-— casting their votes this afternoon and evenina. ., and evening. you say you hope your colleaaues and evening. you say you hope your colleagues will _ and evening. you say you hope your colleagues will think— and evening. you say you hope your colleagues will think about - and evening. you say you hope your colleagues will think about that - and evening. you say you hope your colleagues will think about that and | colleagues will think about that and we are seeing in the hours before this vote that right now, you are still negotiating with different mps. how hopeful are you they will back your legislation? this mps. how hopeful are you they will back your legislation?— back your legislation? this is a clear pound. — back your legislation? this is a clear pound, this _ back your legislation? this is a clear pound, this is _ back your legislation? this is a clear pound, this is part - back your legislation? this is a clear pound, this is part of - back your legislation? this is a clear pound, this is part of a i back your legislation? this is a - clear pound, this is part of a major strategy the government has taken we have already those returns agreements in place with countries like albania —— clear plan. we have intelligence sharing with countries like turkey, doing hundreds of arrests in the uk. small boat arrivals have dropped by a third. if you want to tackle it head amid this legislation is the best way to do it and i really hope colleagues report that because theyjust need to look at the other side and what that would mean. open borders with labour, soaring borrowing and higher taxes with labour, and they have no desire to control this. all colleagues on the conservative side really need to think about the long—term interests of the country. that is passing this legislation tonight. that is passing this legislation toniaht. , ., that is passing this legislation toni.ht_ , ., , that is passing this legislation toniaht. , ., , tonight. sorry to interrupt you, the debate has — tonight. sorry to interrupt you, the debate has begun _ tonight. sorry to interrupt you, the debate has begun and _ tonight. sorry to interrupt you, the debate has begun and we - tonight. sorry to interrupt you, the debate has begun and we can - tonight. sorry to interrupt you, the debate has begun and we can take| debate has begun and we can take viewers to the house of commons now. 1,000 albanians and arrivals from that country are down by 90%. nine, 0%. but in recent years, some of the government's efforts to tackle illegal migration and deport foreign national offenders have been frustrated by a seemingly endless cycle of legal challenges and rulings from domestic and foreign courts. just momentarily, of course, of course this government respects courtjudgments, even when we disagree with them. but parliament and the british people want an end to illegal immigration and they support the rwanda plan. i’m to illegal immigration and they support the rwanda plan. i'm very crateful to support the rwanda plan. i'm very grateful to the _ support the rwanda plan. i'm very grateful to the home _ support the rwanda plan. i'm very grateful to the home secretary - support the rwanda plan. i'm very grateful to the home secretary for giving way, but he has pointed to deterrence and he has often used the australian model of off shoring detention centres as a gold standard. what are his comments on the fact that australia has recently shut down the offshore centre because of the high financial and human costs? the because of the high financial and human costs?— because of the high financial and human costs? the honourable lady raises the case _ human costs? the honourable lady raises the case of _ human costs? the honourable lady raises the case of australia. - human costs? the honourable lady raises the case of australia. the i raises the case of australia. the legal migration by boats, 55,000 that they had, down to pretty much zero. deterrent works. my that they had, down to pretty much zero. deterrent works.— zero. deterrent works. my right honourable _ zero. deterrent works. my right honourable friend _ zero. deterrent works. my right honourable friend i'm _ zero. deterrent works. my right honourable friend i'm sure - zero. deterrent works. my right honourable friend i'm sure willl honourable friend i'm sure will agree that the british are world champions at queueing. we don't like queuejumpers, which is why illegal immigration rates with us. can he confirm that the government will take all steps to ensure that we remain within international law, just not now, but going forward? in which case, i will certainly be supporting the bill tonight. but can he also does he also agree with me that some colleagues in this place need to be careful what they wish for? 50 need to be careful what they wish for? ., _, need to be careful what they wish for? . _, ., for? so i am confident and indeed, the conversations _ for? so i am confident and indeed, the conversations that _ for? so i am confident and indeed, the conversations that i've - for? so i am confident and indeed, the conversations that i've had - for? so i am confident and indeed, | the conversations that i've had with the conversations that i've had with the government's legal advisers reinforce my belief that the actions that we are taking whilst novel, whilst very much pushing at the edge of the envelope, within the framework of international law, and thatis framework of international law, and that is important. that is important. because the uk is a country that demonstrates the whole world the importance of international law. we champion that on the world stage and it's important that we demonstrate it. i am going to make further progress. judges of course play an important role. but they are not policymakers, they should not be policymakers. so when the courts find a particular formulation of policy unlawful, it is the job of politicians to listen to their views, respect their views and find a solution. i will make further progress. thanks to the efforts on the part of the uk government and the government of rwanda, that is exactly what we have donein rwanda, that is exactly what we have done in response to the verdict from the supreme court. the new treaty that i signed last week with rwanda and the bill that accompanies it game changing. the principle of relocating people to a safe country to have their asylum claim processed their is entirely consistent with their is entirely consistent with the terms of the refugee convention. both the high court and the court of appeal unanimously, unanimously confirmed this point. i’m appeal unanimously, unanimously confirmed this point.— confirmed this point. i'm very crateful confirmed this point. i'm very grateful to — confirmed this point. i'm very grateful to my _ confirmed this point. i'm very grateful to my right - confirmed this point. i'm very i grateful to my right honourable friend. he was an excellent foreign secretary, so he will know the extraordinary tensions that exist between the democratic republic of the congo and rwanda. the democratic republic of the congo accuses rwanda of sponsoring a terrorist organisation which is violating congolese women and killing congolese women and killing congolese soldiers. the congolese president has named the rwandan president has named the rwandan president is a hitler —like figure this week. what is his response to the concerns of our congolese friends in this regard? in the concerns of our congolese friends in this regard?- the concerns of our congolese friends in this regard? in my formal role -- former— friends in this regard? in my formal role -- former role, _ friends in this regard? in my formal role -- former role, i— friends in this regard? in my formal role -- former role, i had _ friends in this regard? in my formalj role -- former role, i had extensive role —— former role, i had extensive conversations with the government of the democratic republic of congo and rwanda. we do not agree with that assessment of the government of rwanda. more importantly, other international organisations also rely heavily on rwanda. the unhcr, the european union, organisations which rely heavily on rwanda. they would not do that if they believed rwanda was an unsafe country. i do intend to make further progress. there will be plenty of opportunity in the second reading debate for colleagues to speak. can in the second reading debate for colleagues to speak.— in the second reading debate for colleagues to speak. can i thank the minister for — colleagues to speak. can i thank the minister for giving _ colleagues to speak. can i thank the minister for giving way? _ colleagues to speak. can i thank the minister for giving way? minister, i minister for giving way? minister, just yesterday, i receive correspondence which i think i would quote, eu council directive 2005 is caught by article two of the protocol which can be relied upon in northern ireland, but not in gb in relation to the rwanda bill going forward. article seven confirms the right to remain in the territory whilst a claim is being processed. this clearly creates additional rights in northern ireland which doesn't apply in gb and expressly frustrates the core intent of the rwanda bill in northern ireland, has the minister had the opportunity to look to that? the the minister had the opportunity to look to that?— look to that? the point he makes about differential— look to that? the point he makes about differential treatment - look to that? the point he makes about differential treatment in i about differential treatment in different parts of the uk is one we are conscious of. as the bill progresses, he and others will have the opportunity to raise concerns about specific details. and we will of course listen to his and the concerns of others. this bill attempts, and this bill when passed will address the practical implications. at the moment, the challenges and numbers of refugees in northern ireland is not one that is as significant as other parts of the uk, but we are always conscious to make sure all parts of the uk, and he has heard me say this before, that all parts of the uk are and feel that they are in the thinking of the government as we move forward. i'm going to make further progress. the principle of relocating people to a safe country to have their asylum claims processed is entirely consistent. as i say, the high court and the court of appeal unanimously confirmed this. and the supreme court in their findings three weeks ago did not dispute those findings. i will give way. dispute those findings. i will give wa . �* , dispute those findings. i will give wa. �* , ., ., dispute those findings. i will give wa . �* , ., ., , way. i'm extremely grateful to my rirht way. i'm extremely grateful to my right honourable _ way. i'm extremely grateful to my right honourable friend. - way. i'm extremely grateful to my right honourable friend. does - way. i'm extremely grateful to my right honourable friend. does he| right honourable friend. does he agree that it is clear in international law and also in relation to the question of the rule of law that where in this country, with our own —— with our own constitution, a clear and unambiguous use of words clearly establishing the intention of parliament in the enactment of a law doesin parliament in the enactment of a law does in fact take precedence over international law in accordance with the judgments of lord international law in accordance with thejudgments of lord hoffmann international law in accordance with the judgments of lord hoffmann and also otherjudgments and statements made by lord judge, lord denning and other very distinguished jurists, including in relation to this particularjudgment last month in particular judgment last month in paragraph 1114? particularjudgment last month in paragraph 1114? mr; particularjudgment last month in paragraph 144?— particularjudgment last month in paragraph 144? paragraph i“? my honourable and learned paragraph 144? my honourable and learned friend _ paragraph 144? my honourable and learned friend makes _ paragraph 144? my honourable and learned friend makes the _ paragraph 144? my honourable and | learned friend makes the important point and he is right. when the wording of a bill is clear and unambiguous, whether it is a deeming clause, that that is the express will of parliament and pop —— and parliament is sovereign and that thinking must be adhered to through the legal process. so he is right on that. i am going to make progress. i am going to make progress. a few weeks ago, the supreme court upheld thejudgment of the weeks ago, the supreme court upheld the judgment of the court of appeal. meaning that we cannot yet lawfully remove people to rwanda. this is because of concerns that they expressed that relocated individuals might be refouled deported to a third country. the government disagreed with that verdict, but we respect the verdict of their lordships. it's important to understand that the supreme court's judgment was based on the facts as they existed i8 judgment was based on the facts as they existed 18 months ago, and that they existed 18 months ago, and that the court said the problem could be remedied. and as i told the house last week, we have worked on and have found that very remedied. our asylum partnership with rwanda, i am going to make progress, our asylum partnership with rwanda sets out in a legally—binding international treaty the obligations both of the united kingdom and of rwanda within international law. it also sets out... i international law. it also sets out... ., , international law. it also sets out... . , ., international law. it also sets out... ., , ., ., , out... i am extremely gratefulto my rirht out... i am extremely gratefulto my right honourable _ out... i am extremely gratefulto my right honourable friend _ out... i am extremely gratefulto my right honourable friend for - out... i am extremely gratefulto my right honourable friend for giving i right honourable friend for giving way. as he says, international law and domestic law are both important, but they are different. this bill looks to give this house the power to deem rwanda a safe country. can he confirm for me that what it does not seek to do is to suggest that this country or this house has the power to deem itself in compliance with international law? and my worry stems from clause one five of this bill which of course reflects the gum's intention to deem rwanda a safe country and then goes on to describe a safe country to which persons may rue —— may be removed within compliance of the uk's obligations in compliance with international law. is it not the government's intention to suggest it bolster any country to deem itself in compliance with international law? he doesn't need me to explain what the consequences of that might be elsewhere in the world, that is not the gum's intention and he will look again at the language if it needs to be changed to clarify that. —— the government's intention. that -- the government's intention. that is absolutely — -- the government's intention. that is absolutely not _ -- the government's intention. that is absolutely not the _ —— the government's intention. trust is absolutely not the intention of the bill. the deeming clause is specifically about the safety of rwanda because of our response to their lordships position at the supreme court hearing. we are not seeking to redefine through domestic legislation international law. and then