Tories abandon plan to turn refugee boats around mid-Channel after furious outcry

Home Secretary Patel had tried to incorporate the policy into the Nationality and Borders Bill back in December, claiming it will curb dangerous crossings and allow Brits to gain control of their borders.

The Government has abandoned its plans to force migrants in the middle of the Channel back to France after widespread criticism.

Priti Patel’s ‘pushback’ policy was set to be pulled apart in the High Court later this week, but on Sunday the Government’s Legal Department (GLD) acknowledged the plans had been shelved.

Ministry of Defence officials are understood to have told the Home Office they did not have permission to use the tactic, in a letter sent last week.

Ms Patel had tried to incorporate the policy into the Nationality and Borders Bill back in December, claiming it will curb dangerous crossings and allow Brits to gain control of their borders.

At the time, the Home Secretary suggested “genuine” seekers fleeing dangerous situations would arrive on Britain’s shores without anything to hand.

A Home Office spokesperson even told the Mirror: “If someone has travelled via a safe country like France, then their claim may be considered ‘inadmissible’ and they could be removed from the UK.”

But the Lords have twice rejected those amendments that would penalise refugees arriving in the UK without visas.

In its letter, the GLD said the policy had been withdrawn and the MoD joint commander did not have permission to authorise the use of those tactics.

Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the PCS general secretary said: “This humiliating climbdown by the government is a stunning victory for Home Office workers and for refugees.

“There is little doubt that lives have been saved.

The pushbacks manoeuvre is extremely dangerous and represents a clear risk to life and limb.

“We were simply not prepared to allow our members to be placed in this horrendous position.”

Clare Moseley, the founder of Care4Calais, added: “I find it hard to believe that anyone within government thought that performing pushbacks in the Channel was a viable policy.”