Labour's Border Security and Asylum minister, Anna Turley, faced a difficult interview on LBC with presenter Nick Ferrari, struggling to answer questions about deportations after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced new immigration rules.
During the exchange, Ms Turley praised Ms Mahmood, saying: "She's one of the toughest people I've ever met in my life." Mr Ferrari responded: "Do me a favour, respectfully, minister, please."
Minister's claims challenged
Ms Turley, the MP for Redcar, listed government progress, stating: "Immigration is down 80%, small boat crossings are down by 40%, removals are up by 50%." Mr Ferrari then asked: "Where do those removals go?"
When pressed on which countries they go to, Ms Turley said: "They go back to the countries we've got an agreement with, who will accept them and that's..." Before she could finish, Mr Ferrari interrupted: "Such as?"
Ms Turley then answered: "Albania, countries of origin." The host quizzed: "80,000 people have all gone back to Albania?" She stumbled: "No, no, a whole range of countries they come to."
Continued questioning
Mr Ferrari repeated: "But what are those countries?" Ms Turley responded: "Countries in Africa, countries around the world that we make agreements with." She added that she had visited Heathrow to meet the team who make those arrangements and get the paperwork, saying removals are up 50% on the previous government.
The presenter then noted: "813,000 people moved to the UK last year; surely there comes a point at which it's going to be difficult to cope as regards to schools and housing and healthcare." Ms Turley replied: "And that's such an important point and why Shabana's taking the steps that she's doing."
New settlement plans
Under revised plans, care workers will be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years, ten years earlier than originally proposed, but only if they have earned £25,000 per year in the sector. Some 1.9 million foreign nationals are set to be granted indefinite leave to remain by 2030, an increase of 300,000 from the estimate made in November last year, with only 500,000 facing a longer wait.
Refugees arriving on a "safe and legal route" will be put on the same settlement path as migrants earning more than £50,000. Small boat migrants face a 30-year wait, which falls to 20 years if they study or work.
