Channel crossings are a really important issue that many of my constituents feel strongly about. Earlier this month, I was pleased to join a cross-party delegation of Parliamentarians to visit France in order to speak to asylum seekers, officials and politicians. We discussed how the United Kingdom and France can work together to halt the boat crossings and stop the tragic deaths in the Channel. 

I was pleased to meet the Mayor of Calais and the MP for Calais, who both agreed that a closer working relationship between our nations would be integral to solving this issue. I have always been very clear that in order to solve the Channel crossings, we need safe and legal routes to ensure that people fleeing persecution are able to seek asylum and settle in the UK but we must also take steps to ensure that those who do not have a right to be in this country are not able to take advantage of the asylum system.

I will continue to engage with my colleagues in Parliament, Ministers in Government and counterparts in France to ensure that we can make progress on this vital issue.