The Conservative Party is set to unveil a sweeping ‘Deportation Bill’ this week, outlining stringent new immigration controls, including automatic deportation for those entering the UK via unauthorised routes, as it accuses Labour and Reform UK of offering “empty slogans” in place of real solutions.
In a bold attempt to regain ground following a bruising local election, where the Tories lost more than 600 council seats and control of 15 local authorities, the party says the new legislation marks a “serious, credible” direction on border policy under new leadership.
Among the proposals is a move to disapply the Human Rights Act from immigration-related matters, a measure designed to prevent what the party terms the “abuse of British courts” by foreign nationals. The bill also proposes extending the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain from five to ten years, and granting ministers powers to revoke ILR from those deemed to be a financial “burden” on the country.
Other measures in the bill include:
- A legally binding annual migration cap, to be voted on by Parliament.
- Tougher visa rules for partners and civil partners, including bans on first-cousin marriages.
- Mandatory scientific age tests for asylum seekers.
- The removal of GDPR protections from foreign criminals and irregular migrants.
- The deportation of all foreign criminals, not just those with sentences of over a year.
- Visa sanctions for countries refusing to repatriate their nationals.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp launched the initiative with sharp criticism of Labour’s record on migration. “The Labour Government has turned a blind eye to the small boats crisis,” he said. “We are introducing the Deportation Bill — a bold, pragmatic and deliverable plan to take back control of our borders and restore public confidence.”
He accused Labour and Reform UK of being “complicit in the trade of empty slogans and hollow promises”, adding that the proposed law would test whether opposition MPs “are serious about tackling illegal migration”.
The move comes amid growing pressure from the right, particularly from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which has made substantial gains in recent polls and local elections. Reform took control of 10 councils and gained more than 600 seats, eating into the Conservative base. The Liberal Democrats also capitalised on Tory losses, especially in counties like Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Shropshire.
New Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the party “would not rush” policy, but would instead “come out fighting” with ideas that showed both strength and integrity. “This Bill is the beginning of a robust vision for a country that controls its borders and protects the integrity of its immigration system,” she said in a statement.
The government reports a 34% rise in Channel crossings this year compared to 2024, and an 83% increase on the same period in 2023, with more than 11,500 people arriving by small boat since January.
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However, a Labour spokesperson dismissed the Tories’ plan as “reheated and half-baked”, pointing to their own record on increasing returns by 20% and bolstering enforcement. “They had 14 years in power to act — instead they created a chaotic asylum system and let enforcement collapse,” they said.
“They presided over a 30% drop in deportations and left the taxpayer footing a £5 billion black hole in the Home Office, with hotel costs peaking at nearly £9 million a day.”
Labour claims it is now “getting a grip” on migration by introducing new legislation granting law enforcement counter-terror-style powers to tackle smugglers, and boosting illegal working raids by 40% since July.
Despite the sharp political rhetoric, the proposed Deportation Bill is expected to face fierce opposition in Parliament and in the courts. However, for the Conservatives, the aim is clear: to draw a dividing line between themselves and a Labour Party they accuse of failing on border control, while staving off further erosion of support to Reform.
The next few weeks will prove pivotal as parties brace for a possible snap election later this year.
