Question
Although I welcome the earned progression model, it is disappointing that the Home Secretary has watered down her original proposals under pressure from Cabinet colleagues. Her plan to make illegal migrants wait 30 years for permission to remain will not deter any small boat crossings. Does she agree that the only way to stop the boats is to deport all those who arrive illegally?
Answer
First, it was a genuine consultation and we have listened to the unique circumstances of those who came to work in the care sector. I think it is right that we have arrangements recognising those unique circumstances. On illegal migrants, it is this Government who this year have overseen a 40% decrease in the number of people arriving by small boat. We have made a huge amount of progress, especially through our deal with the French Government and the law enforcement response, trying to go after the gangs that, in the end, put people in those boats. We will not rest until we have stopped people arriving in this country by boat in that way. I think that the settlement offer that people get when they arrive does make a material difference.12% vibes
Verdict: AMBER (35/100)
The question asked whether the Home Secretary agrees that deportation is the only way to stop small boat crossings. The reply does not answer that directly. It implicitly disputes the premise by pointing to a deal with the French Government, action against people-smuggling gangs, and a 40% fall in arrivals, which are specific and concrete. Because the reply never says whether the Home Secretary agrees, the question is only partly answered, and the person who asked would likely need to ask again for a clear position.
How we got there
| Question item | Coverage | Specificity | Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whether the Home Secretary agrees that the only way to stop small boat crossings is to deport all those who arrive illegally. | Partially Addressed | Direct | The reply never says whether the Home Secretary agrees that deportation is the only way to stop crossings, but it implicitly rejects that premise by citing concrete alternatives: the deal with the French Government, law enforcement action against the gangs, and a 40% fall in arrivals. Because the agreement question itself is not answered directly, the item is only partly addressed. |