House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Illegal Migration

Monday 8 June 2026 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

Rachel Taylor asked about steps her Department is taking to reduce illegal migration, noting a decrease in small boat arrivals.
Rachel Taylor mentioned a case of a Nigerian immigrant convicted of rape who was initially allowed to stay due to human rights considerations.
Chris Philp questioned whether Brexit contributes to dangerous small boat crossings, prompting a response that links every issue to Brexit do not serve the aim of a robust asylum system.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rachel Taylor Lab North Warwickshire and Bedworth

Migrants & Borders

Context

The MP asked about steps to reduce illegal immigration, referencing recent small boat arrivals data.

Question

What steps her Department is taking to help reduce levels of illegal migration. My constituents will strongly welcome the most recent data showing that small boat arrivals are massively down this year, but can the Minister confirm that this important progress is just the beginning of restoring order and control at our borders?

Answer from Alex Norris

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for her question. When I visited her community, I heard in no uncertain terms on the doorstep how important this issue is to people, as it is for my community and the rest of the country. That is why we are stepping up the international action we have taken, including the important new deal with France. Domestically, we will be legislating through our immigration and asylum Bill to create the system that I know her constituents want, which is a fair but firm one.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not confirm if progress in reducing small boat arrivals signifies sustained effort in border security

How: Stepping Up International Action, New Deal With France

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Q2 Rachel Taylor Lab North Warwickshire and Bedworth

Immigration Justice & Courts Standards & Ethics

Context

The MP inquired about the case of Gift Oladele, a Nigerian immigrant who committed multiple violent sexual offences and was allowed to stay due to human rights considerations. He requested leaving the European Convention on Human Rights.

Question

Nigerian illegal immigrant Gift Oladele was recently jailed for the brutal rape of a teenage girl. He had previous violent sexual offences and the Home Office tried to deport him, yet an immigration judge allowed him to stay due to human rights considerations. I believe protecting women's rights is more important than foreign rapists staying here. Is it time to leave the European convention on human rights so all criminals like Oladele can be deported?

Answer from Alex Norris

Let me start by saying that I agree that this is a truly awful case. It shows how important it is that we remove people who commit crimes, and we have removed nearly 8,000 foreign offenders since we came into office. But leaving the ECHR would undermine our returns agreements with countries around the world. Instead, our contention is to narrow the domestic interpretation of article 8 through legislation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to leaving the European Convention on Human Rights

How: Leaving Echr Undermines Agreements, Narrowing Domestic Interpretation

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Q3 Chris Philp Con Croydon South

Immigration Asylum & Refugees Brexit

Context

The MP questioned the Government's claim that a one-in, one-out scheme with France would address small boat crossings. He cited an Oxford Migration Observatory report linking Brexit to increased migrant arrivals.

Question

Brexit has seen off Prime Ministers but this Prime Minister has indefinite leave in No. 10. Ministers have been generous but are they aware that the Migration Observatory shows Brexit is a pull factor for dangerous small boat crossings? Will they re-state for record that Brexit contributes to the crisis and commit to pursuing a new comprehensive asylum deal with EU?

Answer from Alex Norris

If we are talking anniversaries, I would like to take this opportunity to wish my fellow class of 2017 intake a happy ninth anniversary. Those conversations trying to pin every single thing on Brexit do not serve the common aim of ensuring a robust asylum system. We can achieve this through ordinary collaboration with our neighbours on the continent.

Not addressed: Did not confirm if Brexit contributes to migration issues or commit to new EU asylum deal