Ex Tory MP: Government migration bill will harm modern slavery fight

A former Conservative MP has hit out at government migration plans saying they could undermine efforts to curb modern slavery in the UK.

David Burrowes, MP for Enfield Southgate from 2005 to 2017 and co-founder of the Conservative Christian Fellowship, said:

"[The] Illegal Migrants Bill will remove significant protections...because it will allow the government to remove people from the UK, even when the Home Office believes there are reasonable grounds to believe they have been trafficked, and even when it has granted leave to remain as a victim of trafficking. This will make it harder to identify victims, support them in their recovery, and work with them to prosecute their traffickers.

"Traffickers are known to use fear to control their victims – threatening violence or telling their victims that they will be punished, prosecuted or deported if they disclose exploitation. This Bill, sadly, gives reality to the traffickers threats. It would represent a significant backwards step in our attempts to tackle modern slavery. We must remove obstacles which prevent us from identifying survivors – rather than erecting new ones."

Mr Burrowes added:

"We have made important strides, but much more work remains to be done if we are to truly deter traffickers from thinking they can exploit people in the UK. Trafficking remains a relatively low-risk, high-reward crime. We need to focus our energy on increasing prosecutions of traffickers and going after the proceeds of their crimes. In this fight, those who have suffered exploitation are our allies regardless of how they came to be here.

"In 2023, as in previous years, it remains 'our duty without equivocation' to provide refuge, and make it easier to identify and support slavery victims and prosecute perpetrators. I trust that on Monday Conservative MPs will be true to our history and values and step up to amend the Illegal Migration Bill – to not delay establishing safe and legal routes and avoid the risk of punishing victims rather than their traffickers."

CARE is urging MPs across the political spectrum to back amendments to the small boats bill that would protect modern slavery victims.

The legislation is being fast-tracked by the UK Government and could be finished in the House of Commons by Tuesday 28 March.

On Monday 27 March, it will go to the committee of the whole house. If amendments are not passed it could go straight to 3rd Reading.

It will then progress to the House of Lords for further scrutiny by Peers.