Tory MP Michael Fabricant says the Government need to be tougher on cracking down on asylum claims.
Speaking as the search continues for chemical attacker, Abdul Shakoor Ezedi , Mr Fabricant told GBNews:
“It's certainly an indictment of our immigration policy. You know, Labour and the Conservatives have been a little bit softer on occasion, I think, on asylum seekers. If you look at the United States you can see how tough they can be. I've got a constituent who, in his teens, got a minor conviction in the UK for smoking a joint in public.
“And he was then refused an immigration certificate to enter the United States. So I think we've got to be much much firmer and say, if somebody has got a conviction, not only should they not enter, don't forget he entered illegally in the first place, but that they shouldn't be granted asylum.”
Asked if he agreed with Lee Anderson, who said those you have committed a crime here, should be sent back to their home country, he added:
“Well, I suppose it depends on which country you're being sent to it. But don't forget these illegal asylum seekers are being sent back or sent across from France and Belgium. So maybe we should send them back there. The trouble is the French and the Belgians won't have them.”
The comments come as it emerged the suspect in the alkali attack was convicted of a sex offence in 2018 and was later granted asylum after applying three times.
Police are looking for Shakoor Ezedi, 35, who was last seen in north London on Wednesday evening.
A mother and her three-year-old daughter hurt by the corrosive substance could have suffered "life-changing" injuries in the attack.
Police have warned people not to approach Ezedi and to instead call 999.
The 31-year-old woman and her daughter remain in hospital, along with her older daughter, eight.
Five police officers were injured as they responded, as were four members of the public who tried to help.
The attack took place near Clapham Common at about 19:25 on Wednesday.
The suspect attempted to escape the scene in a car but crashed into a stationary vehicle, then ran.
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