Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has unveiled plans to restrict asylum access to those crossing the English Channel on small boats after making "stopping the boats" one of his priorities.

The Conservative leader said ministers will have a duty to remove anyone coming to the UK through this route.

However, the humanitarian charity, the British Red Cross called the plans "extremely concerning".

Legislation to reform this aspect of asylum law is expected to be introduced to Parliament by Home Secretary Suella Braverman next week (Tuesday, March 5).

East Anglian Daily Times: (PA) Rishi Sunak made 'stopping the boats' one of his five priorities(PA) Rishi Sunak made 'stopping the boats' one of his five priorities (Image: PA)

Currently, asylum seekers have the right to remain in the UK while they have their cases heard by authorities.

Under legislation being proposed by the Government, those coming to the UK on small boats over the English Channel will be denied asylum, sent to Rwanda or a 'safe third country' and banned from returning permanently.

Mr Sunak told the Daily Mail on Sunday: "Make no mistake, if you come here illegally, you will not be able to stay."

The Prime Minister is expected to travel to Paris for a UK-French summit where he will meet French President Emmanual Macron.

It is thought the two leaders will discuss the small boat crisis in the first such meeting between the two countries since 2018.

Rishi Sunak added that he pledged to "stop the boats once and for all".

"Illegal migration is not fair on British taxpayers, it is not fair on those who come here legally and it is not right that criminal gangs should be allowed to continue their immoral trade. I am determined to deliver on my promise to stop the boats."

Charities call new small boats law 'vindictive and dysfunctional'

The British Red Cross said such plans would do little to stop people from risking their lives to reach the UK while Freedom from Torture added that the plans were "vindictive and dysfunctional".

The government's new pledge is not totally straightforward as plans to remove refugees to Rwanda have been put on hold.

There are also no returns agreements in place with any EU nations.

However, it is expected this controversial plan will get underway once opposition and legal interventions have been overcome.

Many who oppose sending refugees to the African nation of Rwanda argue that the country is not safe and that the scheme breaks human rights law.

Under the Rwanda plan, refugees could be granted refugee status to stay in Rwanda or a third-party nation.

The Government has said this will discourage people from crossing the Channel but there is little evidence to suggest this has happened so far with the number of crossings in 2022 being the highest since 2018.