Yui Mok/Pool via REUTERSLONDON, June 5 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Monday his plan to stop migrants arriving in small boats had reduced crossings by 20%, an update he hopes will ease criticism from his party and in the country over immigration policy.
"In the five months since I launched the plan, crossings are now down 20% compared to last year," Sunak told a news conference in southern England.
"The plan is working," he said, adding his government was not complacent and would work hard to make sure parliament passed a new law.
Sunak urged parliament to pass his new Illegal Migration Bill, which will allow for the swift detention and deportation of people arriving on small boats back to their homeland or to so-called safe third countries such as Rwanda.
Reporting by Sarah Young, writing by Farouq Suleiman and Elizabeth Piper; editing by Kate Holton and Nick MacfieOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Persons:
Rishi Sunak, Yui Mok, Sunak, Sarah Young, Farouq Suleiman, Elizabeth Piper, Kate Holton, Nick Macfie
Organizations:
Western Jet, REUTERS LONDON, British, Conservative Party, Labour Party, Thomson
Locations:
Dover, Britain, England, Albania, London, Rwanda