Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Gainsborough, urged ministers to issue a derogation from the UN's refugee convention to give the Government greater leeway to stop the flow of illegal migration across the English Channel.

"We can make as many statements and pass as many laws as we like," Sir Edward argued at Home Office questions in the House of Commons, "but unless we achieve a temporary derogation for the convention —and, if necessary, from the European Court of Human Rights on this particular issue—we will never solve the problem."