Market Rasen MP calls for tougher border checks

Market Rasen MP Sir Edward Leigh wants checks to be made on every single vehicle entering the United Kingdom from continental ports in a bid to reduce the threat of a Brussels-style terrorist attack.

Sir Edward made the appeal during a debate with Home Secretary Theresa May in the House of Commons last week in the wake of the devastating incidents in Belgium.

Sir Edward said: “Will the Home Secretary acknowledge that this issue is now the 
existential threat of our times and our people are in danger and that now - as in the 1,000 years of our island history - the channel is our best bulwark.

“Given that thanks to the Schengen agreement, dozens of jihadists can access all parts of Europe with European passports, will she (the Home Secretary) institute checks on all vehicles entering the United Kingdom from continental ports?

“And, will all the passports of people entering our airports or ports be checked against intelligence sources, whether or not they are European passports?”

Ms May assured the House that levels of security had been increased at some ports.

She also said she thought Sir Edward had misunderstood the current system for checking passports.

She said: “As I indicated in my statement, Border Force has increased its checks at certain ports.

”However, I think there is a misunderstanding in my hon. Friend’s question because we have checks at our borders and we are able to check people’s passports when they come through.

“That is an important part of our structure in the UK and our security and we will retain it.”

Meanwhile, Sir Edward was also one of the leading figures in a debate on new proposals for devolution for Lincolnshire.

While supporting the proposals in principal, Sir Edward stressed he was against the idea of an elected mayor for the new ‘super authority.’

Sir Edward said: “Why is the Chancellor insisting that the price of devolution for Lincolnshire is an elected mayor, which, frankly, nobody asked for?

“Mayors are for towns, not a large rural area where the district council and a Conservative county council work perfectly well together. Let us have a true devolution and true choice.”