Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has acknowledged that the Conservative Party made grave errors on immigration during their time in Government, describing their previous approach as a "really big, serious mistake" during a challenging interview on GB News.
The senior Tory figure faced tough questioning from GB News reporter Steven Edginton about his party's immigration record whilst defending their new strategy under Kemi Badenoch's leadership.
Mr Philp insisted the Conservatives have developed comprehensive and practical solutions to address both past failures and future challenges.
He emphasised that his party stands alone in Parliament for having produced thorough proposals to rectify immigration issues, suggesting this detailed planning sets them apart from their political rivals.
Chris Philp defended the Conservative immigration record
|GB NEWS
Chris Philp said: "It’s not just that I’ve said what happened previously was a mistake a really big, serious mistake. We now have specific and credible plans not only to stop it happening again, but also to fix what’s already happened.
"There is only one party in Parliament that has done that detailed work. Now, I know Reform talk a very good game.
"Nigel Farage is charismatic, I’ll give him that, and they’ve got good slogans.
"But what Reform hasn’t done is come up with the detailed ideas we have to actually fix these problems going forward.
"That’s the difference between us and that’s the new approach we’re taking."
Steven Edginton pressed further: "Isn’t the actual difference between you and Reform that you are the only party that let in a million Indians, half a million Nigerians, 300,000 Pakistanis, 84,000 Ghanaians, 93,000 Zimbabweans, and so on? That’s the real difference, isn’t it?"
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Chris Philp responded: "Well, I’ve said repeatedly and Kemi has too.
"We both gave a speech on this back in November, just weeks after she became leader and I was appointed Shadow Home Secretary.
"We made clear then, probably not more than 200 yards from where we’re sitting now, that it was a mistake.
"We’ve got new leadership, and we’re taking a different approach."
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaking during the Reform UK East of England conference at Chelmsford City Racecourse | PAUnder Reform's proposals, illegal arrivals would be prohibited from seeking asylum, whilst military facilities rather than hotels would serve as accommodation centres with restricted movement for occupants.
The party intends to negotiate return arrangements with nations including Afghanistan and Eritrea, following Labour's recent agreement with Iraq.
Additionally, Reform would pursue "third country" partnerships with nations such as Rwanda or Albania, reversing Sir Keir Starmer's early policy decisions, with Ascension Island in the Atlantic serving as an alternative deterrent location.