Government must see bigger picture on border security

12.00.00am GMT Wed 25th Jun 2008

Commenting on today's Government decision to drop plans to make families pay a cash bond for relatives who visit from outside the EU, Liberal Democrat Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Huhne said:

"Ministers have simply replaced the punitive bonds scheme with unnecessary threats to poor families.

"Instead of penalising family visits, the Government should start looking at the bigger picture on border security.

"At a stroke, the reintroduction of exit checks would have a far greater impact on illegal immigration than any amount of bullying of immigrant families."