Katherine Forster has branded balloon animal and cake decorating lessons for asylum seekers “insane.”
It comes after 32 jobs were advertised at the all-male Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre, with salaries of more than £30,000 each.
Among the vacancies are positions for a hairdressing instructor, a hospitality and floristry teacher, a painting and decorating instructor, and a gym manager commanding the highest salary at £38,873.66 annually.
Discussing this on GB News, Katherine said: "This is a story that I actually think you couldn’t make up because it’s so insane.
Katherine Forster has branded balloon animal and cake decorating lessons for failed asylum seekers 'insane'
|GB NEWS
"What’s happened is the Government subcontracted various obligations they have, and at the Heathrow Immigration Removal Centre which can house nearly a thousand men people whose asylum claims have been rejected and who are awaiting deportation are being offered some bizarre activities.
"A company was advertising for tutors, including hospitality and floristry, to teach balloon craft making, balloon animals, cake decorating and flower arranging.
"Now, this has come to light and, in fairness, the Home Office Minister Seema Malhotra has said these adverts must be removed.
"The Government admits this was a clear over-interpretation of what could be offered. But of course, the Conservatives are having a field day, calling it absolutely insane.
"And many people would agree how is this a justifiable use of taxpayers’ money?"
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The Conservative Party has launched a scathing attack on the programme, with Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick condemning the initiative as evidence that "the Government has lost the plot."
"They're so addicted to providing freebies that they're even handing them out to foreign criminals when they're about to be chucked out the country. It's insane," Mr Jenrick told The Sun.
The shadow minister demanded immediate action, insisting that "these jobs should be withdrawn immediately and replaced by security officers that can increase deportations."
The Home Office has acknowledged concerns about the advertised positions, with Minister Seema Malhotra confirming that the department has requested their removal.
'This is a story that I actually think you couldn’t make up'
| PAMalhotra stated that officials "don't believe all these roles are necessary" and admitted the advertisements represented "a clear over-interpretation of what could be offered" to detainees.
The minister's intervention followed public outcry over the job listings, which first appeared on the Government's employment website last week.
Despite the Home Office's stated opposition, the positions remain active on the recruitment portal.