RISHI SUNAK unleashed another crackdown on asylum-seekers today, announcing plans for new legislation preventing small-boat arrivals from ever settling in Britain.

Refugee charities quickly condemned the measure and other related policies announced by the Prime Minister as “appalling” and “unspeakably cruel.”

Addressing the Commons, Mr Sunak said the new legislation would make it “unambiguously clear that if you enter the UK illegally, you should not be able to remain here.

“Instead you will be detained and swiftly returned, either to your home country or to a safe country where your asylum claim will be considered,” he said. 

Once ejected from Britain, removals will have no right to re-enter, settle or gain citizenship in thise country, he continued. 

Mr Sunak said the government would aim to clear the massive backlog of asylum claims by the end of next year by doubling the number of caseworkers and making changes to how claims are processed. 

The PM also said that he had signed an agreement with the Albanian government to allow arrivals from that country to be returned rapidly, adding that Border Force officers would be stationed in the capital Tirana for the first time to stop people making the journey. 

Modern slavery laws will be rewritten to prevent Albanian nationals from “unfairly exploiting” the system to frustrate their removal from the country, he continued. 

These changes include new guidance for caseworkers making it “crystal clear” that Albania is a “safe country,” he said.

The threshold that someone must meet to be recognised as a victim of modern slavery will also be raised “significantly.”

“As a result of these changes, the vast majority of claims from Albania can simply be declared clearly unfounded and those individuals can be swiftly returned,” he said. 

But Refugee Action chief executive Tim Naor Hilton warned that these changes “and deporting people based on sweeping and incorrect assumptions about their nationality will mean many victims and refugees risk further danger and exploitation.” 

He said: “New laws to ban people who have no other choice than to cross the Channel from claiming asylum are unbelievably callous and mean refugees trying to reach family here could be deported back to danger.”

The measures were even questioned by former prime minister Theresa May, the architect of the hostile environment for migrants, who warned that changes to modern-day slavery laws risk undermining protections for victims. 

Refugee rights groups also warned that the plans are unworkable and risk putting more profit into the hands of people-smugglers. 

Care4Calais founder Clare Moseley said: “Today's announcements to stop small boat crossings are nothing new and will have no effect. 

“To implement Sunak’s proposed plans, the UK would have to abandon international treaties on refugees and human rights. 

“There is a more humane and effective way to stop people risking their lives in small boats. We need to give safe passage to refugees in Calais.”

Outlining other proposals, Mr Sunak added that the government would end the use of hostels to accommodate asylum-seekers, instead housing them in disused holiday parks, former student halls of residence and military sites. 

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused Mr Sunak of unveiling more “unworkable gimmicks,” following promises by previous Tory prime ministers to stem the influx of refugees.