# Pass new laws to stop small boats

> “Fifth, we will pass new laws to stop small boats, making sure that if you come to this country illegally, you are detained and swiftly removed.”
>
> — Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister, Conservative Party; Speech setting out his five priorities, 4 January 2023

- **Status:** Not met
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Police, courts, prisons](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/police-courts-and-prisons)
- **Speaker:** [Rishi Sunak](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/rishi-sunak), Prime Minister
- **Party:** [Conservative Party](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/conservatives)
- **Made on:** 4 January 2023
- **Where:** Speech setting out his five priorities
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** People who cross the Channel in small boats or otherwise arrive in the UK illegally
- **When:** Not stated
- **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced
- **Quote source:** https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-on-making-2023-the-first-year-of-a-new-and-better-future-4-january-2023 (checked word for word at its source on 20 October 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 20 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-small-boats-laws-2023

## Where it stands

The Illegal Migration Act 2023 became law on 20 July 2023, but its central duty to make arrangements to remove people who arrive illegally (section 2) was never brought into force. On 22 July 2024 the new Home Secretary told the Commons that the central duty "has not even been enacted". The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 repealed that duty on 2 December 2025. The laws passed, but the detention and swift removal they promised never applied, so the card reads Not met. The Rwanda flights are a separate card (uk-rwanda-first-flight-2024).

## Timeline

- 4 January 2023, Promised: The Prime Minister makes new laws to stop small boats the fifth of five promises
- 20 July 2023, Legislated: The Illegal Migration Act 2023 becomes law, with a duty to make arrangements to remove people who arrive illegally ([evidence](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/37/contents))
- 2 December 2025, Not met: The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025 repeals the removal duty, which had never been brought into force ([evidence](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/31/section/41))

## About the cost

No figure in the speech, and no costing of the pledge was published with it.

## Sources

- [Prime Minister's Office: PM speech on building a better future, 4 January 2023](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-on-making-2023-the-first-year-of-a-new-and-better-future-4-january-2023)
- [Illegal Migration Act 2023 (legislation.gov.uk)](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/37/contents)
- [Illegal Migration Act 2023, section 2: duty to make arrangements for removal](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/37/section/2)
- [Hansard, House of Commons, 22 Jul 2024: Border Security and Asylum (Home Secretary's statement)](https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2024-07-22/debates/FBB2B906-592F-4047-A6E1-59D6DB97573A/BorderSecurityAndAsylum)
- [Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Act 2025, section 41: repeal of the 2023 Act's provisions](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2025/31/section/41)

## Checks

- Checked automatically by AI Journalist, not yet verified by an editor.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 20 October 2026.

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