Wes Streeting admits he isn’t snug deporting youngsters beneath new asylum plan
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said he is not comfortable with the prospect of families with children being deported following a backlash – but insisted it is the ‘right thing’ to do
Wes Streeting has admitted he is not “comfortable” with seeing children deported – days after plans to do so were unveiled.
The Health Secretary made the remark after being challenged over the backlash to controversial proposals to ramp up the removal of families. But he claimed it is the “right thing” to do for the country.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the UK has not shown the “necessary toughness”, while a policy document said there has been a “hesitancy” about kicking out families. Asked by LBC whether he was comfortable with seeing kids being removed, Mr Streeting responded: “Honestly? Comfortable? No. But is it the right thing to do for the country? Yes.”
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Under Ms Mahmood’s plans, those affected will initially be offered financial support to return. But if they refuse, the Home Office will look at enforced returns, it was announced. A policy document released on Monday said: “We will launch a consultation on the process for enforcing the removal of families, including children.”
Mr Streeting said: “So one of the things that the Home Secretary is making sure is that we, where people have got no right to be here, that we are deporting them, but also supporting them to be relocated as well.” Pressed further he said Denmark – which the UK’s proposals draw inspiration from – has focused on incentives.
He said: “What they have done is actually increase the financial incentive for people to come forward and say, okay, I’ve got no right to be here, I’m going voluntarily.” But he said that those who refuse this face enforced removal.
The Health Secretary stated: “But what I can’t do is sit here and say that if there’s a new immigration policy, it won’t be enforced because to be honest, that is a big part of the reason why the country’s in the mess that it’s in on asylum and immigration.”
The move has sparked a backlash within the Labour Party. Backbencher Stella Creasy said removing children is “not the British way”. And Lord Alf Dubs, who fled the Nazis as a boy, said: “To use children as a weapon as the Home Secretary is doing I think is a shabby thing. I’m lost for words frankly. My concern was if we remove people who have come here, what happens if they’ve had children in the meantime?
“What are we supposed to do with the children who are born here, who’ve been to school here, who are part of our community and society? We can’t just say ‘out you go because your parents don’t claim to be here’.”
On Monday Ms Mahmood told the Commons that around 700 Albanian families were being housed at taxpayer expense, even though they are not classified as being at risk if they returned.
