Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp supports Kemi Badenoch’s critique of Tory immigration policies, acknowledging past mistakes.
London: Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, is backing Kemi Badenoch’s criticism of the Conservative immigration record. He said, “mistakes were made” by the previous government.
Philp, a former Home Office minister, joined Badenoch in pointing out issues with the past immigration policies. This comes after Priti Patel, the former home secretary, refused to apologize for her points-based system.
In an interview, Philp stated that both he and Badenoch have been honest about the mistakes. They believe the previous government’s approach to immigration needs to be addressed.
Recent data from the Office for National Statistics shows the UK population could grow by five million in the next decade. This growth is mainly due to migration.
Patel, who was home secretary from 2019 to 2022, faced questions about the high immigration numbers since her system was introduced. She acknowledged the numbers were higher than expected but defended the system’s principles.
She emphasized that the system allows skilled workers to come to the UK, which she believes benefits the economy. Patel mentioned the importance of legal migration, especially during the pandemic.
Philp expressed that the current immigration level of 1.2 million is “far too high.” He mentioned that the Conservative Party aims to implement a legally binding cap on visas, though he didn’t specify the number.
After the interview, Badenoch released a statement distancing herself from Patel’s comments. A spokesperson for her stated that the previous government failed to control immigration numbers.
In response, Patel softened her earlier defense, stating that the immigration system needs improvement. She acknowledged the high numbers during her time in office and stressed the importance of learning from past mistakes.
