Britain’s Sunak warns asylum seekers could ‘overwhelm’ parts of Europe
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British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made his remarks at a political festival organised by the party of his Italian counterpart, Ms Giorgia Meloni.
PHOTO: REUTERS
ROME - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Dec 16 that he would push for global reforms to the asylum system and warned that the threat of a growing number of refugees could overwhelm parts of Europe.
In a speech in Italy, Mr Sunak made some of his strongest criticisms of the global asylum system as he tries to revive his government’s plans to send refugees to live in Rwanda.
Mr Sunak made the comments at a political festival organised by the party of his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, where he warned that some enemies were deliberately “driving people to our shores to try and destabilise our societies”.
“If we do not tackle this problem, the numbers will only grow. It will overwhelm our countries and our capacity to help those who actually need our help the most,” he said.
“If that requires us to update our laws and lead an international conversation to amend the post-war frameworks around asylum, then we must do that.”
Britain’s former home secretary, Ms Suella Braverman, earlier in 2023 called for changes to the UN Refugee Convention that obliges all signatories to grant asylum to people fleeing persecution.
The provision has been one of the biggest legal barriers to the British government’s efforts to stop small boat crossings
Britain and Italy announced plans on Dec 16 to jointly co-finance the journey home for migrants stranded in Tunisia, according to statements from both countries, but did not say how much money was being provided.
In November, Italy agreed with Albania to build sea migrant reception centres in Albania
Mr Sunak survived a major threat to his leadership on Dec 12 when he won a vote in Parliament on an emergency Bill to revive his plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda,
