UK Government Firm on Illegal Migration Bill, Refuses to Make Further Compromises

The House of Lords had previously voted to overturn several parts of the bill, but the government has since agreed to changes in the treatment of children and pregnant women.

However, speaking to the BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said that no new compromises would be made.

The bill, which was backed by MPs in March, is a key part of Home Secretary Rishi Sunak's plan to stop small boat crossings in the English Channel.

The government has been criticised by opposition MPs, who say that the bill is "a con" that will make things worse.

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that the government had "lost common sense and common decency" and was "undermining the proper approach we should be taking".

The bill is also controversial due to concerns about how children will be treated under the new migration bill.

There have also been accusations that existing UK regulations to prevent modern slavery would be undermined.

Although the legal duty to deport migrants would not apply to under-18s, the bill would give ministers new powers to deport them in certain circumstances and detain them for extended periods.

It would also extend the limit on how long children could be detained before applying for bail from three days to eight.

The bill is expected to be approved by MPs before the summer recess, but the standoff continues with time running out.

The government has been given the go-ahead to appeal the Court of Appeal ruling that its plan to remove migrants to Rwanda was unlawful at the Supreme Court.

The bill is central to Mr Sunak's high-profile pledge to "stop" small boats crossing the English Channel.