Carole Malone called out Andy Burnham during a live GB News broadcast after she blasted Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood for "backpedalling" for failing to tackle the immigration crisis in the UK. During the Patrick Christys Tonight show, host Nana Akua revealed the true cost of migration in the UK, which is effectively costing taxpayers thousands each year.
It comes amid reports the home secretary's proposal to extend the qualifying period for settlement in the UK. The Daily Express columnist began: "I remember when Shabana Mahmood came to power and she said she was going to sort out immigration. She was very punchy about it. She made a whole load of punchy announcements about it. She went over to Denmark, went to see how they did it and came back with a lot of ideas."
Backpedalling on Reforms
She went on: "You won't be able to get leave to remain for 10 years. You might not be able to get permanent settlement for 20 years. I'm thinking brilliant, she's going to do it. Then all of a sudden she's backpedalling because [Angela] Rayner is opening her big mouth again. Rayner even said these reforms were 'Un-British'."
Malone added: "How stupid can you be? What's un-British is taxpayers in this country having to pay £41,000-per-year for every migrant who comes to this country illegally. This is not on. We can't afford to be doing this."
Settlement Figures
According to reports, more than 200,000 people have been granted indefinite leave to remain since ministers proposed tough restrictions last year. Thousands of migrants are settling permanently in Britain every week, which gives them entitlement to lifetime benefits, NHS care and social housing.
At least 5,000 people who have lived here for five years – having legally arrived on visas – gain settlement each week, figures have suggested. Ministers have proposed tougher restrictions on legal migrants being able to claim indefinite leave to remain, but Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood recently signalled that she may have to water down those plans.
Ms Rayner has said she is concerned about Labour's proposals to change visa rules, which would make it harder for foreign workers to secure permanent residency in the UK.
