Rishi Sunak refuses to repeat Suella Braverman’s claim that a ‘hurricane’ of migrants is coming to Britain in testy BBC Radio 4 clash with Nick Robinson
Rishi Sunak has declined to repeat his Home Secretary’s claim that a ‘hurricane’ of migrants is threatening to enter Britain.
The Prime Minister, in a testy interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, dodged an opportunity to use the same language as Suella Braverman.
During her speech to the Tory conference in Manchester this week, the Home Secretary said her own parents’ migration to Britain was a ‘mere gust compared to the hurricane that is coming’.
But her hardline address to Conservative members prompted a fierce backlash from critics, while she also faced jibes she was prioritising her Tory leadership hopes over tackling day-to-day issues.
In his own speech to the Tory conference yesterday, Mr Sunak was viewed as taking a pointed dig at Mrs Braverman’s recent claim that multiculturalism has ‘failed’.
The PM spoke about his personal pride that ‘a family can go from arriving here with little to Downing Street in three generations’.
Rishi Sunak has declined to repeat his Home Secretary’s claim that a ‘hurricane’ of migrants is threatening to enter Britain
During her Tory conference speech, Suella Braverman said her own parents’ migration to Britain was a ‘mere gust compared to the hurricane that is coming’
Speaking to the BBC’s Nick Robinson (pictured with the PM during a September interview), Mr Sunak was quizzed about whether he agreed with his Home Secretary’s words
Speaking to BBC Radio 4 presenter Nick Robinson after his keynote address, Mr Sunak was quizzed about whether he agreed with his Home Secretary’s words.
‘Illegal migration is putting unsustainable pressure on our country and, for me, it is non-negotiable that it should be the British people who decide who comes to our country and not criminal gangs,’ the PM said.
Pressed on whether he agreed with Mrs Braverman’s claim that migrants coming to Britain represented a ‘hurricane’ or an ‘invasion’, Mr Sunak said: ‘I made a speech myself eight months ago about illegal migration.
‘I pointed out the number of people who potentially could come to the UK, figures that have been mentioned by international organisations.
‘That’s clearly unsustainable, which is why we’re taking action to stop the boats – the numbers are down this year by one-fifth.
‘But I also believe firmly that this one of the most welcoming, tolerant countries in the world.
‘I’m living proof of what is possible in this country, but it is right when people come here that they integrate, that they share British values.
‘I think that’s just a common sense approach and our country does that better than anywhere else, anywhere in the world.’
Mr Sunak was also asked whether it was ‘right to vilify people’ seeking to migrate to the UK as part of a ‘hurricane’ and ‘invasion’.
He replied: ‘What we need to do is make sure that the criminal gangs who are perpetuating an evil, who are taking advantage of all the people that you’re describing, leading to in many cases, tragically, them dying, need to be stopped. And we need to take action to stop them.’
The PM added that said ‘no-one should want to defend’ the ‘evil’ trade of people paying to come to the UK illegally and ‘being exploited by gangs’.
When it was put to him that he was happy with his Home Secretary’s remarks, Mr Sunak said: ‘Your words, not mine. I’ve been very clear about what I’ve said.’
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