British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said during a recent visit to Rome that uncontrolled illegal immigration can have a devastating impact on countries and societies, leading to the overwhelming of national systems and potentially being weaponized by enemies to destabilize societies. Sunak and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi agreed that a plan would be co-funded by the UK and Italy to address illegal immigration by addressing the root causes of migration and increasing security and economic development across North Africa.
In a speech at Italy’s ruling party Brothers of Italy’s annual Atreju event, Mr. Sunak warned that the ever-increasing number of migrants arriving in the Central Mediterranean would grow if not tackled, posing a risk of overwhelming countries and capacity to help those in need, and angering voters.
In the UK, Mr. Sunak is under pressure from both the left and the right over the government’s Rwanda Bill, which would demonstrate to the Supreme Court that Rwanda is a safe country to send illegal immigrants to. The Labour party painted the bill as “gimmicks,” while some Conservative MPs believe it will face electoral oblivion if it is introduced.
The bill also saw the resignation of Immigration minister Robert Jenrick, who said it doesn’t go far enough to stop legal challenges. The bill passed the second reading with a fragile majority, but its future remains uncertain.
Mr. Sunak said that if the law requires politicians to update laws and lead an international conversation to amend postwar frameworks around asylum, then that should happen. He added that if the problem is not fixed soon, the boats will keep coming and more people will die at sea.
Despite the reduction in the number of migrants arriving this year, data from the Home Office shows that illegal immigration via small boats has grown steadily, and that previous deals and cooperation agreements with other countries have contributed to lower numbers.