Responding to the new Anglo-French deal on small-boat crossings, Carla Denyer, Green Party Co-Leader, said:
“The only way to stop people making dangerous journeys across the channel is to introduce safe and managed routes for people to seek asylum in the UK. Anything else – including the impractical and unrealistic deal announced today – is a distraction.
“While our governments use migration as a political football, more people will lose their lives in the Channel fleeing violence, war or oppression because the only way for them to reach the UK is by putting their lives in the hands of people smugglers.
“Earlier this year a committee of MPs published a detailed analysis of how to improve the UK’s refugee and asylum policy, and recommended sensible measures including improving family reunion, restoring the resettlement scheme, and introducing a pilot refugee visa.
“Instead of scrambling to appear tough on migration with flawed scheme after flawed scheme, it’s time for the UK government to get practical about tackling small boat crossings, and urgently set up safe and managed routes for people to seek asylum in the UK.”