Vigil taking place in Dover for migrants who drowned trying to cross the Channel

The vigil is being held in Dover in memory of the migrants who died trying to cross the Channel

A vigil is taking place tonight in Dover for the 27 migrants who drowned trying to cross the channel to Kent last week. The tragedy has brought renewed calls for 'safe routes' to be established for migrants, including the ability to apply for asylum here from France. 

But the deaths have also strengthened the government's determination to 'break the cycle' of the people smugglers through controversial legislation allowing migrant boats to be 'pushed back' to the French coast. 

It comes as a report is claiming the Government's plans to turn small boats around in the Channel would breach Britain's human rights obligations.

A Committee made up of MPs and Lords says the Government must scrap the idea of so-called "pushbacks" at sea.

A wreath is laid in Dover

Insight from ITV Meridian political correspondent Phil Hornby

The Joint Committee on Human Rights is a group of MPs and peers from all parties who look at how government legislation impacts human rights.

They've examined the Nationality and Borders Bill and they are not impressed.

Lord  Brabazon, Committee member and MP Tom Pursglove, Immigration Minister

They say parts of it breach the UK's commitments to human rights, and parts might also break international maritime law.

They are especially concerned about the proposed "pushbacks" - forcibly trying to make small boats turn round in the Channel and head back to France.

This could lead to a maritime disaster, say the committee.

Record numbers of migrants have attempted to cross the Channel in recent weeks

It will be safe and legal, insist the Government.

At Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Johnson told MPs the new law would make it possible to distinguish between legal and illegal asylum seekers, make it possible to turn boats around and open the way to setting up a processing system in a foreign country to deter the migrants. 

The Government are betting the house on this law working.

At the moment it is the only answer they have to the crisis in the Channel. But it will be fiercely opposed in the Commons next week.

It will be debated next Tuesday and Wednesday, and it's clear it's the Government's most controversial piece of legislation.