THE Bishop of Durham has accused the Government’s immigration policy of “not having account for human nature” as he urged them to explore expanding family reunion pathways, saying “families belong together”.

Writing for The Northern Echo, Paul Butler said a “small and simple change to the rules” could reunite families safely, adding: “Is there any parent among us who would not take extreme risks to be reunited with their child?”

His comments come as Rishi Sunak has been warned by Theresa May that efforts to tighten modern slavery laws to prevent migrants using them to avoid being deported risk creating other loopholes that could be exploited.

The former prime minister, who championed the “world-leading protections” for victims of modern-day slavery, warned Mr Sunak against unintended consequences in his attempts to prevent the rules being exploited.

The Prime Minister has promised to “raise the threshold someone must meet to be considered a modern slave” and “remove the gold-plating” in the system.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has claimed the laws are being “abused by people gaming the system” to stay in the UK when they would otherwise face being deported.

The Modern Slavery Act was introduced by Mrs May during her time as home secretary in order to protect vulnerable people from exploitation, domestic servitude or being trafficked for sex.

The Bishop said: “If we want to prevent people risking their lives, we must provide a safe way for them to reunite with their loved ones.

“This is not so hard for us to understand. It is about love. Is there any parent among us who would not take extreme risks to be reunited with their child? The problem with the government’s policy is that it does not account for human nature: families belong together.

"The way forward is clear and I, like the Archbishop of Canterbury, would encourage the Government to explore expanding family reunion pathways. I recognise that family does need clear framing in law but we cannot remove parents from our definition.

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“This is also a pathway that is easier to facilitate and manage, given familial links can be confirmed. The parents would also then go on to care for their children in the UK, removing the responsibility from authorities.

“This step would be a very small and simple change to our immigration rules. But for the children who would be able live in safety with their mums and dads, it would be transformational. “ Official figures have shown that 90 people crossed the English Channel in two small boats on Christmas Day.

The Christmas Day channel crossings take provisional figures for small boat crossings to 45,756 for 2022, though more migrants may have made the treacherous journey from France.