Tory MPs will this week try to change the law to stop illegal migrants making spurious human rights claims in British courts to prevent deportation.
They have tabled an amendment to the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill that would mean the Human Rights Act would not apply to deportation cases.
However, they would need the support of Labour MPs to get the move passed.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the change was ‘critical to shift immigration powers from the courts to Parliament’, adding: ‘Our ability to manage immigration is hindered by extremely distorted interpretations of international laws… Operating in Britain’s national interest means recognising the government’s primary purpose: defending our borders, values, and people.’
Tory sources acknowledged that migrants could still appeal through Strasbourg because the UK would still be in the European Convention of Human Rights but said: ‘Our measure will stop UK judges expanding the definitions’ with rulings that ‘defy common sense’.
A Home Office source said: ‘The Tories had 14 years to make changes. This amendment is totally unworkable.’
It comes as the total cost of accommodating asylum seekers in hotels is now £5.5million every day, according to figures obtained by The Times.
The number of migrants living in hotels at the expense of taxpayers has also risen by 8,500 under Labour.
The increase comes despite their election manifesto pledge to ‘end asylum hotels, saving the taxpayer billions of pounds’.
Figures showed there were 38,079 in hotels at the end of December, up from 29,585 at the end of June – an increase of 29 per cent.
However, government sources have said Angela Rayner is putting Labour under increased pressure to scrap the policy.
It is understood she wants the Government to terminate contracts they have made with private companies to house migrants.
Contracts with Serco, Clearsprings Ready Homes and Mears are worth around a whopping £4.6billion.
Nevertheless, the Home Office is yet to set a definite end date on migrant hotels as it does not want to commit to ‘arbitrary targets’.
The main issue facing the Government is the lack of other alternatives – with the party saying it does not want to use large sites such as former RAF properties.
However, the delay in shutting down migrant hotels has been criticised by the Conservatives.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp previously said: ‘Despite promising to end hotel use for asylum seekers, the numbers have gone up again and they are costing Britons dear.
‘Removals of small boat arrivals are down again under Labour, with only 4 per cent of small boat arrivals being removed. Does the Labour Government really think that letting 96 per cent of illegal immigrants stay here is going to deter anybody?’
From the beginning of the Channel crisis in January 2018 to the end of December 2025, 151,161 migrants reached Britain by small boat. But only 4,995 have undergone enforced or voluntary removal from the country.
Last year there was a total of 8,164 enforced returns of immigration offenders and foreign criminals, a 28 per cent increase on the previous 12 months but still far below the 15,000 sent back annually in 2012 and 2013.