Migration New home secretary to host talks on borders

Shabana Mahmood will host a meeting of the Five Eyes security alliance to discuss how to stop people-smuggling, as it emerged that ministers were looking at housing those who entered the UK by small boat in military barracks.

- Rowena Mason

The new home secretary is to be joined in London by Kristi Noem, the US secretary of state for homeland security, as well as interior ministers from Australia, Canada and New Zealand, which collectively form the intelligence-sharing pact.

In her first major engagement in the job, she will also host discussions on stopping child sexual abuse online and how to halt the spread of deadly synthetic opioids.

"Rebuilding our reputation on the world stage is how we tackle serious organised crime and secure our borders," Mahmood said. "We have already reset our relationship with the EU, struck a people-smuggling deal with the G7 and operationalised a first-of-its-kind returns agreement with France. Today, we will agree new measures to protect our borders with our Five Eyes partners, hitting people-smugglers hard."

"The Five Eyes might be drawn from different corners of the globe, but we are united by our alliance. As the security threats we all face become more complex and span continents, we are stronger and safer together."