Tory small boats bill 'boosts gangs behind industrial scale sexual exploitation'

17 July 2023 , 18:02

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Tory small boats bill 'boosts gangs behind industrial scale sexual exploitation'

A Labour MP has warned cruel Tory small boats laws will empower criminal gangs who allow women to be raped "multiple times a day".

In a scathing assessment of Suella Braverman's callous Illegal Migration Bill, Dame Diana Johnson told MPs that it will make the "industrial scale sexual exploitation" of women trafficked from abroad even worse.

Dame Diana also called on MPs to oppose the proposed detention of children, telling the Commons: "No one in this House would want this treatment for their own children."

The Labour MP, who chairs the influential Home Affairs Select Committee, urged MPs to accept a raft of changes to the Bill, which critics - including ex-Tory PM Theresa May - warn will be a gift to trafficking gangs.

Dame Diana warned that removing modern slavery protections from people who arrive in small boats - as the Bill proposes - will prevent victims coming forward.

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Labour MP Dame Diana Johnson warned that the bill would be a gift to sex trafficking gangs

In a harrowing assessment of the legislation, Dame Diana said: "Evidence presented to the Home Affairs Select Committee has revealed the urgent need to open up more escape routes for trafficked victims including what's currently industrial scale sexual exploitation with women advertised on pimping websites up and down the land in every constituency. On websites like Vivastreet which allows women to be raped multiple times a day.

"Under this legislation they won't be offered help and assistance, they'll be detained and removed."

She continued: "Removing that Modern Slavery protection certainly do nothing to do what we all want to happen, which is bring criminal gangs orchestrating this abuse to justice."

But her pleas failed to persuade the Commons, with an amendment calling for protection to remain in place passing by 282 to 227.

She also called on MPs to support extra protection for children, who would be detained on arrival in the UK.

Tory Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick defended the Government plans (ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA)

The Government has faced passionate opposition from within Tory ranks, with Mrs May previously saying they would "consign more people to slavery".

Meanwhile Conservative former minister Tim Loughton said there were "still too many outstanding questions" about the detention of children, with the Government only making small concessions by allowing a small number to apply for bail after eight days.

Mr Loughton, who said he broadly supports the Bill, said: "Objecting to some of the trafficking measures in the Bill is about protecting a victim and prosecuting traffickers, not undermining the Bill.

"Having greater safeguards on how we look after children who've arrived here don't undermine the Bill, they strengthen it."

He said that those concerned about children being locked up "need those extra assurances".

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And SNP immigration spokesman Stuart McDonald said: "This Bill is about locking up kids, about forcing trafficking victims back to their exploiters, mass detention, closure of the UK asylum system and the trashing of international laws."

Earlier Labour's Shadow Immigration Minister Stephen Kinnock told the Commons there is a "direct correlation" between the "utterly botched Brexit " negotiated by the Government and "skyrocketing small boat crossings".

He pointed to the loss of the Dublin agreement, which allowed the UK to return asylum seekers to EU member states.

Mr Kinnock said there was a "direct connection between us crashing out of the Dublin regulation because of the utterly botched Brexit" and "small boat crossings started to skyrocket".

Tory Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick defended the withdrawal of modern slavery protection, saying: "We believe that inaction is not an option, that we must stop the boats, and that this Bill is a key part of our plan to do just that."

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Dave Burke