Suella Braverman claimed earlier today that migrants crossing the Channel were “invading” England.
According to the home secretary, approximately 40,000 people will arrive on England’s south coast in 2022, more than doubling the number of arrivals via the English Channel in 2021.
“Let’s be clear about what’s going on here: the British people deserve to know which party is serious about stopping the invasion on our southern coast and which party isn’t,” she said.
“Some 40,000 people have arrived on the south coast this year alone. Many of them are facilitated by criminal gangs, some of them actual members of criminal gangs.
“So let’s stop pretending that they are all refugees in distress. The whole country knows that is not true. It’s only the honourable members opposite who pretend otherwise.
“We need to be straight with the public. The system is broken. Illegal migration is out of control and too many people are interested in playing political parlour games, covering up the truth than solving the problem.”
Now, the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants has condemned Ms Braverman’s comments.
They said the minister’s “dehumanising language” and decision-making were “putting lives at risk”.