Priti Patel pledged to reduce visa requests from countries refusing to accept criminals or asylum seekers from the UK.
In a new crackdown against those who ‘abuse our hospitality,’ the Home Secretary will ‘impose visa penalties on countries that don’t cooperate’ with deportations.
After they are implemented, she revealed that Gambia would be the first to adopt stricter measures. The police ignored calls, and only four people were arrested last year.
Meanwhile, Sierra Leone, Eritrea, Cambodia and Vietnam are also under consideration for visa penalties after their records for taking back deportations were also low.
Priti Patel (Home Secretary) has promised to slow down applications for visas from nations refusing asylum seekers and criminals from the UK.
Gambia will receive the tougher penalties first, she said. They had ‘ignored’ all calls and only taken four offenders back in 2013. After their low records in returning deportations, Sierra Leone and Eritrea as well as Cambodia, Eritrea, Cambodia, and Vietnam, are all under scrutiny for visa penalties.
On Sunday, she spoke out to The Sun. She stated that some countries are not cooperative in returning criminals. Therefore we will penalize countries for refusing to return them with visa penalties.
“We have the right to take back British citizens who are convicted of crimes abroad, and we also accept that other countries will do so.
A record number of foreign criminals have been released from prison and taken to the streets, reaching almost 11,000
According to official figures, there had been 10,882 foreign nationals released from prison but not deported at the end June.
They are all subject to deportation as they have been sentenced to at least twelve months in prison.
This comes as Ms Patel will be granted new powers to impose visa penalties on countries that do not cooperate on deportations, under new reforms in the Nationality and Borders Bill.
She will be able to suspend visas entirely, impose a £190 surcharge on applications to come to the UK or increase visa processing times – and aims to encourage other countries to cooperate with the UK government.
Meanwhile, Ministers are plotting to ease immigration restrictions that could help thousands of Indian citizens both live and work in the UK more easily in 2022.
According to some, the move could become a major point in trade talks between the countries that will be held later in this month in Delhi.
Anne-Marie Trevelyan, international trade secretary, is set to make the offer to Indian officials as part of the Government’s plan to limit China’s influence in the region.
According to a senior official in government, ministers accept that a visa offer from the United States would provide the needed counterbalance to any trade talks.
Reports the Times that Foreign Secretary Liz Truss supports Ms Trevelyan. However, Priti Patel (Home Secretary) will most likely pressurize her, as she does not support this move.
Trade talks between India and the UK could see immigration restrictions eased so that thousands of Indians can live and work in Britain. Pictured: Indian residents in Katra.
Liz Truss, Foreign Secretary (above), is believed to support plans for easing Indian immigration restrictions
Plans call for Indian citizens to be granted a visa similar to Australians. It will allow young workers to stay and work in Britain up to 3 years.
Another option is to reduce visa fees for Indian students and allow them temporary residence in the country once they graduate.
Work and tourism visas – which at present can cost up to £1,400 – could also be cheapened in a move to sweeten the Delhi representatives.
A free trade agreement between both India and the UK would solidify a closer economic relationship between the pair, which began last May when a £1billion trade and investment deal was announced by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
No 10 had said UK businesses had secured export deals worth more than £446million and was expected to create more than 400 jobs.
At the time, Mr Johnson said: ‘Each and every one of the more than 6,500 jobs announced today will help families and communities build back from coronavirus and boost the British and Indian economies.’
He and Narendra Modi, the Indian Prime Minister, agreed to a “2030 Roadmap”, which will provide a “quantum leap” in relations after a virtual meeting last spring.
As an emerging market and one of the world’s most populous nations, India’s GDP (gross domestic product) stands at around £2 trillion despite not having a bilateral trade deal with the US or the EU.
Britain hopes its strong ties to India will allow it to outperform the rest and make a historic trade agreement. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to move ‘further’ and faster to help Britain succeed in the post-Brexit world.
The ministers agreed that an agreement with Delhi would give British companies a significant advantage in the third-largest economy of the world by 2050.
Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of India will hope his charm to Narendra Modi (left), at the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow this November will lead to them negotiating positive trade deals
India is a large protectionist country that has imposed significant tariffs on imports. The British have discussed loosening these restrictions, which could include whisky, which may be subject to import duties up to 150 percent.
According to the UK trade office, however, it views a more ambitious free trade agreement which includes India’s growing tech sector as its ultimate goal.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Department for International Trade stated that ‘a free-trade agreement was in place. [with India]UK business will be able to take advantage of huge new opportunities.
After Lord Frost’s dramatic resignation, Mrs Truss has taken over the direct responsibility of post-Brexit Trade Talks.
Although he voted for the Remain side in the referendum campaign, the Foreign Secretary will now be the lead negotiator.
The work will be on top of her present job – and her role as minister for women and equalities.
As International Trade Secretary Miss Truss was praised for negotiating deals with Australia and Japan during her tenure. She even supported Remain 2016 but says that she’d vote again for Brexit.