Hughes: closure at risk

Peers who vote against the government's asylum reforms could undermine plans to close the Sangatte refugee camp, it was claimed on Monday.

The warning came as ministers prepared to press ahead with David Blunkett's asylum and immigration bill despite strong opposition in the Lords.

Beverly Hughes, the Home Office minister, has warned that the French government will not honour its commitment to close the controversial camp unless Britain introduces a tough new asylum regime.

And in his press conference, the prime minister said the Lords should realise that "we have to sort the asylum system out".

Tony Blair said the French government had been "immensely helpful" in closing Sangatte but were "anxious for us to eliminate the pull factor". "I believe this bill will go through," he said.

Speaking earlier, Hughes said that Sangatte's future was closely bound up with the success of the government's bill.

"These measures were a critical part of the discussions that the home secretary had,'' Hughes told the Today programme.

"The defeats in the Lords are actually on central parts of that reform programme in the bill on accommodation centres and on serious criminals and tie our hands on implementing accommodation centres and trialing them in the way that we need to.''

The minister has urged MPs to send a "strong signal" to peers by voting for the legislation as it stands.

"If the Tory spokesperson and his members decide to support the Lords instead of supporting the government measures then that will be a very serious matter indeed," Hughes warned.

Whilst Hughes said the government was willing to be flexible on the introduction of new asylum reception centres, she warned that it would not back down on the policy.

"We are determined to get this through and if we don't we will not be able to deliver the reforms on asylum that are absolutely essential and are in the public interest," said Hughes.

But the Liberal Democrats warned the government against "threatening" parliament.

"None of the changes made in the House of Lords have any direct effect on arrangements with France and the closure of Sangatte," said home affairs spokesman Simon Hughes.

"It is a sign of weak argument on the issues that the government is resorting to threats."