BBC host Fiona bruce has clashed with a Labour Minister over the Government’s immigration policy.
The presenter put it to Baroness Jacqui Smith that under Sir ‘s policies, migrants arriving in the UK illegally who claim asylum successfully can get indefinite leave to remain.
Ms Bruce said the immigration status brings benefits such as universal credit and access to the NHS – but will now no longer come with a passport or an ability to stand in public office.
The host, referencing whether this was an effective deterrent, asked: “Do you think that’s the thing that’s going to make the difference?”
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Fiona Bruce and Labour Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith slash on BBC Question Time (Image: BBC Question Time)
Baroness Jacqui said: “I don’t think that’s the only thing that’s going to make a difference.”
The host said: “But how do you think this is going to make a difference?”
The minister said she would “come to it in a moment” but the presenter pressed her on that specific question.
Baroness Jacqui said: “You said to me what would make a difference…”
But Ms Bruce interjected to repeat the question: “Will denying citizenship to anyone that enters the UK legally reduce the number of people trying to get in?”
The Minister said: “What happened with the guidance this week is that yes, the Government did toughen it up. They did say that there would no longer be a 10 year default position where you would be eligible to get your citizenship, and that if you had come illegally – particularly exploited onto a small boat and with your life put at list – and important signal would be that that would be a criteria which would make it less likely that you would get citizenship.”
Pressed again, she added: “It’s sending a clear message to people who are being exployed and killed by people trying to get thm into small boats across the Channel that that won’t achieve the objective that they want to achieve.”
The Home Office toughened up guidance to make it nearly impossible for refugees to become British citizens if they travel to the UK by small boat.
The move has sparked an outcry from Labour MPs and refugee charities, who urged the government to reconsider.
On Monday, the department updated guidance for staff assessing refugees so it now says applicants who have “made a dangerous journey will normally be refused citizenship”.
Under the previous guidance, refugees who arrived in the UK by irregular routes would be required to wait 10 years before being considered for citizenship.