A Conservative MP has ignited a political firestorm after calling for migrant families who are legally settled in Britain to be deported from the country.
Tom Pugh, the MP for Brigg and Goole, faced immediate backlash from charities and opposition parties following his controversial remarks during a television interview on Tuesday.
"Time to send them back" - MP's explosive comments
Speaking on a morning news programme, Pugh declared that the government should consider removing families who had arrived through legal routes, stating it was "time to send them back" regardless of their established lives in the UK.
"We have to look at all options, including those who came here perfectly legally but whose continued presence may not serve our national interest," the MP asserted during the heated exchange.
Charities condemn "dangerous rhetoric"
Refugee and migrant support organisations reacted with fury to Pugh's comments. The Refugee Council described the proposal as "legally questionable and morally bankrupt," while Migration Watch UK called it "an alarming escalation of anti-immigration rhetoric."
One charity director, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Guardian: "This isn't just political posturing - it's dangerous rhetoric that could incite hatred against families who have built their lives here entirely within the rules."
Political opponents seize on controversy
Labour's shadow immigration minister responded swiftly, labelling Pugh's comments "the latest example of the Conservative Party's descent into extreme and unworkable immigration policies."
Even within his own party, concerns were raised privately about the MP's positioning. One senior Tory backbencher noted that "attacking people who followed all the rules undermines the very concept of a rules-based immigration system."
The controversy comes as the government faces ongoing pressure to reduce net migration figures while maintaining Britain's international obligations and reputation as a country that honours legal agreements.
