Rylan Clark has issued a statement after his comments on This Morning sparked discussion about immigration. The television presenter said 'migrants saved my mum's life' while hosting the ITV show, referring to the care his mother Linda received in hospital from immigrant nurses and doctors.
During the programme, Mr Clark said: 'This country is built on immigration. Legal immigration — a lot of the nurses, the doctors that have saved my mum’s life have come over here from other countries.' He also criticised the treatment of those arriving via small boats across the Channel, saying it was 'insane' that they are given hotels, iPads, and other amenities.
Hours later, Mr Clark posted on Instagram: 'You can be pro immigration and against illegal routes. You can support trans people and have the utmost respect for women. ... Stop with this putting everyone in a box exercise and maybe have conversations instead of shouting on twitter.'
The broadcaster acknowledged his views would upset some, noting that 'people that have lived here all their lives that are struggling' and that 'something major needs to be done about this.' He contrasted the treatment of British citizens returning without a passport with those arriving by boat, who he said are taken to four-star hotels.
Mr Clark's comments come amid a wave of anti-immigration protests across the UK over asylum hotels, with some turning violent. A High Court judge recently ordered the removal of migrants from a hotel in Essex, following a migrant being charged with sexual assault of a schoolgirl.
