Gavin Robinson: Solution to the UK's immigration crisis can't wait for a new government
The problem of illegal immigration and control of the UK’s borders is an issue in “the here and now” and requires solutions from the current government – not waiting for a potential Reform government in four years time, the DUP leader has said.
Gavin Robinson made the comments in an interview with the News Letter ahead of his party’s conference this weekend, and after debate about how proposals by Nigel Farage to deal with small boats crossing the English channel would impact Northern Ireland.
Mr Farage has proposed withdrawal from the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to allow deportations of those entering the country illegally, but said it would take longer in Northern Ireland because of the Belfast Agreement – which he has suggested renegotiating. The 1998 deal references the ECHR – and nationalists have argued that a UK exit would tear the deal up.
Ulster Unionist MLAs have rejected the idea – warning that it could result in a people border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the country. However, some DUP politicians and the TUV have backed the idea of quitting the convention – so long as it happens on a UK wide basis.
Asked if some in his party are in danger of repeating the mistakes of Brexit by backing a proposal which has the potential to further weaken Northern Ireland’s place in the UK, the DUP leader said people are getting ahead of themselves.
“We’ll not stand for a people border down the Irish Sea. My colleagues and I have all spoken on the proposals for ECHR – there can be no solution which isn’t a whole-UK solution.
“There can be no solution which causes a barrier within the UK. I think Nigel Farage has augmented somewhat the position that he outlined at the start of this journey he is on.
“But people are getting very excitable about what they think may or may not be the outcome of an election in four years’ time. Let’s deal with the here and now.
“There is an issue on immigration and about the control of our borders in the United Kingdom in the here and now. Those issues are causing discord and difficulty – and some unseemly sights in English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland cities. Including my own constituency of East Belfast”, he said.
Mr Robinson said politicians have two options – to discuss the issues and demonstrate that politics works, or “shut down the discussion” and “castigate” people with concerns.
“The issue is not going away, and nor can it wait for a four year cycle of who is going to be the Prime Minister of this country.
“ECHR, and how it is interpreted by the courts is an issue – but so is the efficiency of government. So is the willingness of our national government to say ‘come here legally, if you adhere to our rules, if you contribute to our society, great. But if you don’t, you’re not staying”, he said.
The DUP leader said that immigration policy should be dealt with in a UK-wide basis. Asked if that can happen under Article 2 of the Windsor Framework – which saw the last government’s Rwanda policy struck out in NI – he said there is a risk it won’t, a point which he has raised a number of times in parliament.
“The government were saying that we were wrong, and that Article 2 had no implications [on immigration policy] – and yet the courts agreed that it did. It will be resolved by the Supreme Court in October, in the Dillon case”, he said.
The full interview with Gavin Robinson will be in Saturday’s edition on the News Letter.