Priti Patel
Home Secretary · 2019–2022
In one sentence
In the chair when the boats became a system, and when the legal-migration taps were opened.
Patel talked like a restrictionist and passed the Nationality and Borders Act. On her watch small-boat arrivals went from 1,843 (2019) to 45,755 (2022). The post-Brexit visa liberalisation sat in the same government. She signed the Rwanda partnership. She did not stop the Channel, and she did not close the care and student routes that drove the later 944,000 peak. Intent and outcome diverged. The record is the outcome.
I will do whatever it takes to secure our border.
What they did
2019–2022
Channel takeoff
299 detections in 2018; 45,755 in 2022. The French relationship, the pull factor of hotel accommodation, and the collapse of returns all sat on her desk.
2022
Nationality and Borders Act
Criminalised illegal entry and enabled third-country removal. Labour, Lib Dems, SNP and Greens voted against.
Apr 2022
Rwanda deal
Signed the Migration and Economic Development Partnership. No one was removed under it while she was in office.
How they voted
Blocked it / opened it means they voted against tighter rules, or for the Human Rights Act. Backed it means they voted for a tightening bill.
| Bill | What they did | Note |
|---|---|---|
NABA 2022 2022 | Backed it | Bill minister. |
IMA 2023 2023 | Backed it | Backbench Conservative, for. |
Rwanda Act 2024 2024 | Backed it | For, unlike Braverman/Jenrick rebels. |
Sources: Home Office small-boat series; Hansard NABA 2022