In a Zoom call with backbenchers Ms Patel (pictured in Dover this week) suggested that the system was being ‘exploited by leftie Labour-supporting lawyers’ who were doing everything they could to stop the Government removing people.
Priti Patel has warned France the UK will not cough up millions of pounds for anti-migrant patrols unless it agrees to take back more refugees as she prepares sweeping changes to the ‘broken’ immigration system.
The Home Secretary told Tory MPs that she was preparing sweeping legal changes that would ‘send the left into meltdown’, as migrants arrived in Dover for the 10th day in a row.
People in lifejackets and masks were brought into the harbour aboard a Border Force patrol boat before being taken ashore by officials.
In a Zoom call with hardline backbenchers she suggested that the system was being ‘exploited by leftie Labour-supporting lawyers’ who were doing everything they could to stop the Government removing people.
And she said that France’s demand for £30million to fund Channel patrols and surveillance would be dependent on it taking in more of those seeking to get to the UK, the Times reported.
Favourable weather in the English Channel has made the crossing possible for hundreds of migrants over the last 10 days, despite her vow to make the route ‘unviable’.
The Government has asked for military assistance, which so far has taken the form of two RAF planes, but proposals to send armed forces to the English Channel to deal with small boat crossings have come under fire from France.
Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart said sending the Royal Navy into the English Channel to deal with migrant crossings is a ‘declaration of maritime war’.
And Labour shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds insisted that ministers must provide solutions rather than ’empty headlines’ in order to tackle the issue.
Shadow justice secretary David Lammy added: ‘Extremely distasteful for Priti Patel to say our asylum system is ”exploited by leftie lawyers”.
‘Caricaturing an entire profession, which is subject to a code of conduct and upholds the rule of law, is dangerous and unbecoming of a serious Home Secretary.’
Hundreds of migrants have crossed the dangerous waters of the Channel on small boats in the last 10 days
The Home Secretary told Tory MPs that she was preparing sweeping legal changes that would ‘send the left into meltdown’
Meanwhile Kent County Council said it could be just ‘days away’ from being unable to look after more asylum seeking children arriving on its shores.
In Dover on Thursday morning more suspected migrants arrived on Border Force’s patrol boat Speedwell.
They were taken ashore by immigration officials where they will be assessed for symptoms of coronavirus, as is protocol.
Border Force cutter Seeker and French border patrol boat Scarpe have also been active in the Channel on Thursday.
It comes after 71 migrants arrived in the UK on Wednesday, travelling aboard six boats.
Hundreds of migrants have crossed the dangerous waters of the Channel on small boats in the last 10 days.
The numbers peaked on August 6 when 235 made it to the UK – a single-day record.
Ms Patel’s newly appointed Clandestine Channel Threat Commander, Dan O’Mahoney, said: ‘These crossings are dangerous and unnecessary and I am determined to stop them.
‘The minister and I met with French officials in Paris on Tuesday for discussions on how to advance joint working on making the small boats route for illegal migration unviable.
‘We will continue to go after the heinous criminals and organised crime networks putting people’s lives at risk.’
The Government’s handling of migrant crossings came under fire from Labour, which accused it of lacking ‘competence and compassion’.
Mr Thomas-Symonds said on Wednesday that it had resulted in thousands risking their lives in dangerous waters.
In a letter to Ms Patel, he said: ‘Anyone watching the footage will see the huge danger in these crossings. It’s wrong that this is happening and that so many people are risking their lives having already faced extraordinary hardship.
“The approach being pursued by Government is lacking in competence and compassion, resulting in thousands of people, including many children, risking their lives in incredibly dangerous waters.
“Criminal gangs continue to profit, with many people coming from some of the most dangerous and unstable parts of the world.”
He continued: “The situation has been exacerbated by Government rhetoric when you should have been concentrating on the need to find a viable, humanitarian, practical solution, working with international partners.”