Campaigners accused Suella Braverman of 'pouring petrol on a xenophobic and racist fire' as the Government’s immigration legislation cleared the Commons. The Home Secretary had earlier said people arriving in the UK in small boats have values which are 'at odds with our country' ahead of MPs debating the Illegal Migration Bill.
Asked later whether she had figures to support the statement, she said it was based on information she had gathered from police chiefs. It came as senior backbench Tories, including former prime minister Theresa May and ex-party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, voiced concerns in Parliament about the impact the Government’s flagship immigration reforms could have on modern slavery protections.
READ MORE: Join the FREE Manchester Evening News WhatsApp community
