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Manston was at risk of becoming an unofficial detention centre, minister says No simple solutions on Channel crossings, Rishi Sunak says
(about 3 hours later)
There were protests outside the Manston centre over the weekend WATCH: Sunak on Channel migrants - We can make a difference
Grant Shapps has said the Manston asylum processing site was "tipping into becoming an unofficial detention centre" when he briefly served as home secretary last month. WATCH: Sunak on Channel migrants - We can make a difference
He told BBC Breakfast he received "very clear" advice when he took over from Suella Braverman after she resigned. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said there is "not one simple solution" to tackling the number of people crossing the Channel in small boats, after meeting the French president for talks.
Mr Shapps said there were concerns people were "unintentionally being detained", which would not be legal. But he said there was an opportunity to work closely with European countries on illegal migration.
The government has been criticised for severe overcrowding at Manston. He added that more details would be set out in the coming weeks.
Ms Braverman, who was reappointed as home secretary by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has denied ignoring legal advice or blocking the use of hotels to ease the pressure at the site in Kent. The meeting with President Emmanuel Macron took place on the sidelines of the COP27 climate summit in Egypt.
At one point at the end of last month there were believed to be around 4,000 migrants at Manston - despite the centre being designed to accommodate only 1,600 people on a temporary basis. Mr Sunak said he had also been talking to other European leaders, and was leaving with "renewed confidence and optimism that working together with our European partners, we can make a difference, grip this challenge of illegal immigration and stop people coming illegally".
However, he told broadcasters this was a "complex issue and it's not one simple solution that's going to solve it overnight".
Downing Street said a deal with France on small boat crossings was "in its final stages", with talks on specific details taking place with Home Office officials.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the UK needed to work "upstream" with France to stop people-smuggling across the Channel.
How many migrants cross the Channel in small boats?
Why are there problems at Manston migrant centre?Why are there problems at Manston migrant centre?
What's behind the Home Office migrant backlog?What's behind the Home Office migrant backlog?
Mr Shapps, who is now business secretary, served as home secretary for six days after the resignation of Ms Braverman over data breaches in the final days of Liz Truss's premiership. So far this year, almost 40,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats - the highest number since figures began to be collected in 2018.
He told BBC Breakfast that, during his time at the Home Office, "what I saw was a situation whereby a centre that was set up to be a processing centre... was tipping into becoming an unofficial detention centre". The government has blamed an increase in the number of crossings for overcrowding at an asylum processing centre in Manston, Kent.
He said he was keen to ensure the government remained within the law and made changes to the operation of the site "to ensure that it wasn't a detention centre", while also moving people out. At one point at the end of last month there were believed to be around 4,000 migrants at Manston - despite the centre being designed to accommodate only 1,600 people on a temporary basis.
On Monday, Home Office Minister Robert Jenrick said the numbers at Manston were now below 1,600 again.
Suella Braverman, who was reappointed home secretary by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last month, has denied ignoring legal advice or blocking the use of hotels to ease the pressure at Manston.
Asked whether Ms Braverman had made the situation at Manston worse, Mr Sunak said she was making sure the numbers at the site were reduced "and we're making very good progress on that".
Earlier Grant Shapps said Manston was "tipping into becoming an unofficial detention centre" when he briefly served as home secretary last month.
He told BBC Breakfast he received "very clear advice" during his six days at the Home Office, after the resignation of Ms Braverman over data breaches in the final days of Liz Truss's premiership.
He said there were concerns people were "unintentionally being detained", which would not be legal.
Mr Shapps, who is now business secretary, said he was keen to ensure the government remained within the law and made changes to the operation of the site "to ensure that it wasn't a detention centre", while also moving people out.
He added: "Those are decisions that I very quickly made. Actually, the home secretary subsequently has continued to make the same changes to make sure that those numbers are brought down."He added: "Those are decisions that I very quickly made. Actually, the home secretary subsequently has continued to make the same changes to make sure that those numbers are brought down."
The big question Suella Braverman faces is whether she did enough to ensure the government was complying with the law at Manston.The big question Suella Braverman faces is whether she did enough to ensure the government was complying with the law at Manston.
Several people close to the process have said she did not take the action required to make sure people were moved on from the temporary facility quickly.Several people close to the process have said she did not take the action required to make sure people were moved on from the temporary facility quickly.
Ms Braverman has denied blocking the procurement of hotels. But Grant Shapps has just potentially opened a can of worms.Ms Braverman has denied blocking the procurement of hotels. But Grant Shapps has just potentially opened a can of worms.
He says he got very clear advice about Manston, and that there were concerns about people being unintentionally kept for too long, thus acting outside the law.He says he got very clear advice about Manston, and that there were concerns about people being unintentionally kept for too long, thus acting outside the law.
Mr Shapps also talked about having to "rectify" the situation when he took over.Mr Shapps also talked about having to "rectify" the situation when he took over.
This raises more questions for the home secretary about whether she took all the action she needed to.This raises more questions for the home secretary about whether she took all the action she needed to.
The government is facing a potential court battle over the safety of women and children at Manston, after legal action claimed there was routine and prolonged unlawful detention at the facility.
The former RAF base was set up as a short-term holding site, with no overnight accommodation, meaning officials can not normally keep anyone there beyond 24 hours.
The government has blamed the large number of people crossing the English Channel in small boats for the pressure on the asylum system.
So far this year, almost 40,000 people have made the dangerous journey - the highest number since figures began to be collected in 2018.
The issue will be discussed by Mr Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron when they meet at the COP27 climate summit in Egypt later.
"The more that we can work with our partners in France to stop people from leaving those shores in the first place, the better," Mr Shapps said, adding that reducing the numbers crossing the Channel would "relieve the pressures" in the UK.
The prime minister's official spokesman said he would not "pre-empt" their meeting, but the government wanted to "continue strong co-operation" with the French who had a "vitally important" role.
He said the French authorities had "stopped 29,000 illegal crossings" this year, double the number in 2021, and that a joint intelligence cell had made 500 arrests and dismantled 55 organised crime groups since 2020.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the UK needed to work "upstream" with France to stop people smuggling across the Channel.
"That is the discussion I would have, I hope it is the discussion that our prime minister will have," he told broadcasters.