Asylum Hotels and Illegal Channel Crossings Debate

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Department: Home Office

Asylum Hotels and Illegal Channel Crossings

Amanda Martin Excerpts
Tuesday 25th March 2025

(4 days, 15 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Angela Eagle Portrait Dame Angela Eagle
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I suggest that the right hon. Gentleman raises that issue with the Chancellor.

Amanda Martin Portrait Amanda Martin (Portsmouth North) (Lab)
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It beggars belief that the Conservatives have the gall to question the actions we have taken as a Government in clearing up the mess they left behind, because they simply stopped doing anything other than wasting £9 billion of taxpayers’ money. We have returned 19,000 people with no right to be here, we have increased Border Force, and we have increased working with our European allies and our intelligence services, but there is more to do. It was a mess, and people in our country feel let down and a deep mistrust of politicians. That is causing division and rumour mills to develop and fester in our communities. Can the Minister tell me what we are doing as a Government to rebuild public trust and community cohesion? Does she agree that that should start right here in this House?

Angela Eagle Portrait Dame Angela Eagle
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I believe that people need to think about the language they use and the impressions of human beings they give when they talk about this very emotive issue. It raises huge concern, I know. As a Government, we have certainly got to do all we can to try to reassure people that we can get this system back under control, after finding a chaotic mess when we came into Government.