Business of the House

Debate between Simon Danczuk and Thérèse Coffey

Thursday 26th May 2016 Commons Chamber

[Dr Coffey]

The Prime Minister and the Government are still committed to reducing net migration to tens of thousands. We have strengthened measures through the Immigration Act 2014. The United Kingdom has created more jobs than the rest of the European Union put together in six years, so I do not think people should be surprised if some of those jobs have attracted people in the EU to come and work here. Nevertheless, the pledge still stands, and I am sure my hon. Friend will work alongside us to make it happen.

[Simon Danczuk (Rochdale) (Ind)]

The Times published the headline: “Imam beaten to death in sex grooming town” on 20 February. The editor could not be bothered to respond to concerns and IPSO—the Independent Press Standards Organisation—refused to take up the complaint. It was clearly Islamophobic, disrespectful to the victim and derogatory to the town I represent. May we have statement on when we will have a press regulator with some teeth?

[Dr Coffey]

I understand why the hon. Gentleman is distressed by that headline. The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport will be here on the first Thursday after our return, so the hon. Gentleman might want to pose that question directly to him.