Priti Patel faces backlash over record immigration numbers during her tenure as Home Secretary, contradicting Tory claims of control.
London: Priti Patel faced tough questions today about immigration numbers. She tried to claim that high immigration was a win for Brexit.
Despite her claims, immigration has surged under Tory governments. This led to a quick response from Kemi Badenoch, who admitted they failed to control it.
On The Sun’s Never Mind The Ballots, Patel was challenged about 1.2 million arrivals last year. This added 728,000 to the population after considering departures.
Patel argued that they ended free movement and highlighted the points-based immigration system. She said it allows control over who comes in based on economic needs.
She also mentioned that many migrants were granted humanitarian visas from Ukraine and Hong Kong. However, only 188,000 of the 1.07 million arrivals were for humanitarian reasons.
Most migrants came on work or study visas, along with their families. When asked if she would apologize for her past promises, Patel denied any wrongdoing.
Her comments clashed with Badenoch, who has acknowledged the high numbers and promised to address the mistakes made by the party.
Political opponents quickly criticized Patel. Nigel Farage said the Conservatives are proud of their poor immigration record. A Labour spokesman added that Patel refuses to apologize for the record high net migration.
