RISHI AT WAR OVER MIGRANTS

Angry civil servants vow to scupper PM’s plan to tackle asylum crisis | As Rishi and Home Secretary act, they will face ‘some serious battles’

- David Williamson

RISHI Sunak is on a collision course with civil servants over plans to ban illegal migrants from claiming asylum. 

Senior officials claim the Prime Minister wants to tear up the rule book in a bid to end the tide of people crossing the Channel in small boats.

He is driving ahead with new laws that would completely remove the right to asylum here for all illegal entrants.

But furious Whitehall insiders have vowed to torpedo the plan, claiming it “drives a coach and horses” through the 1951 Refugee Convention. And last night the Home Office was understood to be urgently considering legal advice.

The clash between Downing Street and Home Office mandarins comes after Mr Sunak staked his reputation on tackling the Channel crisis which saw 45,756 people landing illegally last year.

The PM and Home Secretary Suella Braverman are expected to announce new legislation in the next few weeks to ensure migrants are “detained and swiftly removed” – and also unable to exploit the asylum system.

But a highly placed source has made it clear they will face intense internal opposition from Home Office staff.

The insider said: “The Prime Minister’s plan will drive a coach and horses through asylum law.

“In the past, such schemes have been mooted by home secretaries and we’ve managed to stall them by dragging our feet or pointing out the problems.

“Now it seems it’s all being driven by No 10. He’s going to have some serious battles on his hands.”