Prime Minister Andy Burnham struggled to keep his composure during a "car crash" interview on Sky News, in which he issued a new statement on migration. The Labour leader "completely fell apart" on camera when he attempted to defend the border policies during an interview with host Beth Rigby.
She quizzed him about Piddlington's vote to secede from the UK in protest of the Government's plans to house more than 1,000 asylum seekers at a disused military site nearby. Residents in the small Oxfordshire village cast their ballots in a symbolic independence referendum held by Piddlington Parish Council on Tuesday (September 15) after the Government announced plans to house up to 1,256 male asylum seekers at an MoD site between Piddlington and Upper and Lower Arncott.
Stammering response
Mr Burnham couldn't help but stutter when the question was put to him about his opinion on the ballot. He stammered: "I understand the strength of feeling, and that's something that is across the country, but the only thing to do is to get the number of crossings down.
"And they are significantly down; they are now at a seven-year low. But we also made a commitment to people to end the use of hotels to house refugees and asylum seekers.
"And that commitment needs to be honoured, and I think the vast majority of people are saying, 'Yep, that really does need to proceed'. This involves difficult decisions.
Social media reaction
"It's about fairness across the country, not saying only one part of the country or one group of communities should do all of the work. It's difficult, and obviously, I will look at the issues being raised by the community and in the referendum, but we have to ensure that we have a fair plan as well as getting the numbers down, and the numbers are coming down significantly."
It didn't take long for viewers to flock to social media to share their concerns online, with one user fuming: "The Prime Minister has completely fallen apart on camera trying to defend his chaotic border policies.
"Stammering, stuttering, and visibly terrified of his own words, Burnham actually tried to justify Operation Scatter by claiming that spreading unvetted arrivals across every single town in Great Britain makes it fair!"
Another agreed: "There should not be a risk in the first place. Burnham and his Government are guilty of betraying the British people. He openly admits there is a risk, so why do it, why let it, or encourage it, to happen?"
A third chimed in with: "Hysterical nonsense. Despite all the scaremongering and agenda-peddling, the number of people arriving by boat has been greatly reduced. Deportations are up. Overall immigration is also significantly down."
