The UK will stop issuing visas to countries that refuse to take back illegal migrants and foreign criminals, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has warned.
She said the government was ready to cut visas for workers, students and visitors if countries did not play by the rules and accept citizens who have no right to stay in Britain.
In the past, countries such as Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan and Ethiopia have been criticised for failing to take back their nationals, though Ms Mahmood did not name any nations this time.
The new stance puts Labour in line with policies backed by the Conservatives and Reform UK.
It was also discussed with Britain’s Five Eyes security partners – the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand – during a meeting in London.
Ms Mahmood said she wanted to go further and faster than her predecessor Yvette Cooper in tackling migration. She pledged to do whatever it takes to secure Britain’s borders.
The warning comes as small boat crossings continue to surge. More than 30,000 migrants have arrived in the UK by sea so far this year, with over 1,000 people landing on Saturday alone.
Ms Mahmood also said,the UK will push countries harder to take back failed asylum seekers.
Deportations under the new “one in, one out” deal with France will begin this month, with around 100 people already detained for removal.
Britain will review how the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is applied in UK law, though Labour will not pull out of it.
The Home Secretary confirmed she would not stand in the Labour deputy leadership contest triggered by Angela Rayner’s resignation, saying her top priority was securing the borders.
Conservatives accused Labour of talking tough but failing to act. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, said the government should go further by also cutting foreign aid to countries that refuse to take back their nationals.
