Rishi Sunak, the UK Prime Minister, has declared that he is "living proof" that migrants are welcome in Britain. In an interview on the This Morning program, Sunak implored anyone moving to the UK to adopt British values, stating that immigrants "can come here and do well". However, he emphasized that those making the move must do so legally and make an effort to integrate with the community.
Embracing British Values
Sunak's statements came in response to Home Secretary Suella Braverman's claim that Britain faces a "hurricane" of mass migration. While Sunak refused to support Braverman's remarks, he agreed with the idea that immigrants should integrate and sign up to British values. He stated that this shared understanding among the British people is crucial.
Fearlessly Addressing Integration Issues
The Home Secretary caused a stir at the Tory conference in Manchester when she criticized immigrants who fail to integrate into society. Braverman highlighted the importance of learning the language, embracing British values, and participating in British life. She claimed that it is essential to identify these issues and fearlessly address them.
Stopping the Boats and Controlling Illegal Migration
During the This Morning interview, Sunak doubled down on the claim that the UK needs to stop the boats that bring over illegal migrants who refuse to integrate and strain resources. He emphasized that Britain should have control over who enters the country, rather than criminal gangs. Sunak called illegal migration wrong and inhumane, emphasizing that a fair and compassionate system cannot be achieved if the queue is being jumped.
Labour Conference Pressure
As the Labour Party conference is set to begin in Liverpool, pressure is mounting on Sir Keir Starmer to clarify his policies on stopping the boats and controlling legal migration. Starmer previously suggested signing a migrant "returns agreement" with Brussels, a move that sparked controversy and the concern that it could lead to taking in 100,000 illegal immigrants annually from EU countries.
