Steerpike Steerpike

Labour MP: keep illegal migrants because of Paddington

(Photo by CHRIS J RATCLIFFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Desperate times call for desperate measures seems to the mantra of the day in Labour HQ. First a foreign office minister insisted that ceding the Chagos Islands was essential to avoid, er, war – and now Labour MP Stella Creasy has invoked Paddington Bear to stand up for illegal migrants. You couldn’t make it up…

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, the backbench MP hit out at her own government’s plans to slash numbers of illegal migrants coming to the UK. Her intervention comes after the Home Office last night announced rules that will prevent small boat arrivals from becoming British citizens. No matter how long they’ve been in the UK, anyone who gets into Britain by sneaking across in a vehicle will be unable to get citizenship.

This was far too draconian for Creasy, however, who spent her morning telling the Today show why the new measures weren’t right.

Steerpike
Written by
Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

Topics in this article

Comments

Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.

Already a subscriber? Log in