THE Government’s new plans to stop migrants crossing the Channel illegally will not be effective, according to former Lib Dem Business Secretary Vince Cable.

He told GB News: “There’s no evidence that the public at large are deeply alarmed about the problem – the evidence seems to suggest that anti immigrant sentiment is strongest in areas where the population of immigrants is lowest.

“There have been repeated attempts to deal with it, and none of them have been effective and I don’t think this will be effective.

“We have to have a good collaborative relationship with the French over returns, over the issue of policing, to stop smuggling.

“We need some safe routes for countries, it’s clearly a chronic human rights issue in Afghanistan as opposed to Albania. They’re very different cases.

“A lot needs to be done, it’s a very difficult problem and Britain isn’t the only problem that is struggling with this. A lot of people are dying crossing the Mediterranean.”

Asked if he agreed with former Prime Minister Theresa May, who has said she was concerned that genuine victims of modern slavery could be collateral damage, he said: “I think she made some very good points.

“Theresa May was a very tough Home Secretary for five years. I actually disagreed with her strongly on some of anti-immigration measures, particularly things like trying to keep out overseas students.

“But the point she was making yesterday is that the legislation is likely to not be effective as well as causing quite serious human rights problems.”

Asked if she bears responsibility for creating a “hostile environment” for migrants, he said: “She didn’t create it. I mean, it was there, she probably aggravated it.”

On the effects of cross-Channel migrants on social cohesion, Mr Cable said: “Well the figure of 45,000 has to be put in the context of net emigration of about 300,000.

“And if you’re worried about the impact on social services, that’s the calculation that we have to make.
“Personally, I think net immigration has been generally beneficial from the UK but there are pressure points, you’re quite right, and we have to safeguard those 45,000 asylum seekers.

“That is little over 10% of total net migration. It’s a difficult problem, but it’s not a massive problem in terms of numbers.”