Minister rejects Trump's call for military to tackle illegal migration

"US President Donald Trump sugested that military intervention could be used to deal with illegal migration to the UK during his state visit this week. But Trade Secretary Peter Kyle has rejected that call, telling BBC Breakfast the UK Border Force has specific responsibility for policing UK borders. He added the Navy has a "working relationship" with the border force and can be called up on when needed, but was focused on "national defence"."

""Well, what he suggested was the military are used, but we have the UK Border Force that is now established and has been reinforced and bolstered and have new powers under this Government. "The Navy actually does have a working relationship with the UK Border Force, and the Navy can be called upon if needed, so we do have the functional relationship that we need between our military and keeping our borders safe and secure. ""

"Speaking alongside Sir Keir Starmer at a press conference at the PM's country residence Chequers on Thursday, Trump suggested such force was needed as illegal migration "destroys countries from within". He said: "You have people coming in and I told the prime minister I would stop it, and it doesn't matter if you call out the military, it doesn't matter what means you use.""

The UK military is focused on national defence rather than preventing asylum seekers crossing the Channel. US President Donald Trump suggested using military intervention to address illegal migration to the UK during his state visit. Trade Secretary Peter Kyle rejected military deployment for border policing and stated that the UK Border Force has specific responsibility for policing UK borders. Kyle said the Border Force has been reinforced, bolstered and given new powers under the government. He said the Navy has a working relationship with the Border Force and can be called upon if needed. A second migrant was returned to France after losing a legal challenge, reflecting firmer court application of new guidance on returns.

Read at www.bbc.com