Conservative MPs have complained to party whips after Katie Lam, a rising Tory star, said many legally settled people should be deported to make the UK “culturally coherent”. Lam, seen as a close ally of shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick, told the Sunday Times she believed “a large number of people” living legally in the UK should have their right to stay revoked and “go home”.
Her remarks have triggered alarm among Tory MPs, with one saying: “If we are using phrases like that, we need to explain what they mean. ‘Culturally coherent’: it’s either dog-whistle or it’s so vague it’s meaningless.” Another senior Tory said Lam appeared to be trying to take Jenrick’s spot on the hard right of the party, adding: “This is what happens when you are new to the party and don’t really understand what it is about.”
Keir Starmer vehemently condemned Lam’s comments on Thursday, saying: “I can’t tell you how much I disagree with her.” He told ITV that her approach, targeting people lawfully in the country for cultural reasons, showed “how far the Conservative party has sunk”.
The Conservatives have set out plans to retrospectively strip indefinite leave to remain (ILR) from people who claim benefits, which could result in many being deported. However, confusion persists over the policy, with shadow housing secretary James Cleverly denying retrospective changes, contradicting a draft bill from shadow home secretary Chris Philp that explicitly allows revocation of ILR for crimes, benefit claims, or low earnings.
Kemi Badenoch’s spokesperson said Lam’s comments were “broadly in line” with party policy, but it is understood the remarks prompted concern within Badenoch’s office about “freelancing” by a very junior shadow minister. The Liberal Democrats’ Max Wilkinson said the Conservatives were “trying to deport people who contribute to our country”.
