Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has responded to suggestions that Suella Braverman’s rhetoric surrounding illegal migration is undermining the integrity of the Home Office.
It comes as the Home Secretary faces criticism over comments such as describing Channel crossings as an “invasion”.
Sunak told GB News that he and the Home Secretary remain “aligned” on the issue of illegal migration, insisting it is a key priority for the Government.
Asked by GB News Political Editor Darren McCaffrey whether he feels “uncomfortable” with some of the language being used by his own party, Sunak admitted “tone matters”.
Rishi Sunak addresses Suella Braverman's comments on illegal migration
GB News
He said: “I’ve always been clear that what I believe we are doing is the right policy. It’s also the moral and compassionate policy.”
“At the moment, we have a situation where people are being exploited by criminal gangs.
“People are needlessly dying, which is a tragedy.”
Probed over the use of the word “invasion,” Sunak insisted he has been “very clear” on the issue.
He said: “I think people can use the language I am using.
“The Home Secretary and I are aligned but this is the right policy to grip this problem.
“We’ve got a situation where the number of the people coming into the UK illegally in the past two years has gone up four times.
“We’re spending five and a half million pounds a day on hotels, I don’t think anyone can look at that and say that’s a sustainable situation.”
The comments follow the announcement that Britain is set to pay France nearly half a billion pounds in a bid to prevent small boats from crossing the Channel.
The Prime Minister praised the “unprecedented” £478 million (541 million euro) package to fund a new detention centre in France and hundreds of extra law enforcement officers on French shores.
Sunak announced the package after holding talks with Emmanuel Macron during a UK-France summit at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Friday.
The French President told Mr Sunak the migration returns agreement that he covets under his pledge to “stop the boats” would have to be negotiated with the European Union rather than Paris.
Suella Braverman has faced criticism from campaigners who said the proposed policy would be unworkablePARishi Sunak told GB News that the UK’s stance on the matter is “compassionate”.
He said: “We have always been a compassionate, welcoming country.
“Half a million refugees from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria and Hong Kong have been welcomed to the UK over the past few years. No one can say that we aren’t a welcoming country, but its got to be done legally and fairly.”
“At the moment, that isn’t helping and we aren’t able to help the world’s most vulnerable people.
“The moral and compassionate thing would be to break the cycle and that’s what our policy will do.”