Immigration policy 'similar to 1930s Britain' claims Brighton MP

Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who represents Brighton Kemptown for Labour, criticised the government’s plans to stop migrants crossing the Channel by deporting them within weeks back to their home country or a “safe third country”.

He said that the proposed legislation is “cruel and callous” and mirrors the attitudes of the UK government of the 1930s, where Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi Germany were turned away.

It comes after controversy erupted after sports broadcaster Gary Lineker compared the language used about refugees by the government to Germany in the 1930s.

In an exclusive interview with The Argus, Mr Russell-Moyle said: “I didn’t agree with the wording Gary Linekar used - it wouldn’t be the wording I would have used, but the sentiment I 100 per cent agree with.

“I actually think it is more like 1930s Britain over Germany - let’s remember Britain turned away Jewish refugees and it was the Daily Mail that was saying “hurrah for the Blackshirts”. The establishment of the day almost joined the Nazis.

“It was after the war that Britain and the British people looked back in embarrassment and said “we turned away those people who were fleeing, we must never do that again”.

“In the cold light of day, Britain led in building the Refugee Convention, not because of what Germany had done but because of the failures of what we had done in the 1930s.

“There is a real fear that what we are seeing now is that danger moment we had back then.”

MOST READ:

• The coolest places to live in Sussex, according to new survey
• Body of woman found on beach – family of missing person notified
• Shoppers left in the dark as major power cut hits town centre

Get more stories delivered to your inbox every day by signing up to our morning newsletter

Mr Russell-Moyle’s comments came as the UN’s refugee agency condemned the government’s plan, unveiled last week, saying it amounts to an “asylum ban”.

He said: “Branding it as an ‘asylum ban’ is not an exaggeration. This policy would effectively close the UK’s doors to refugees who have no other means to make their way legally to the UK.

“It is a cruel and callous attempt to shift responsibility and burden onto other countries while ignoring our international obligations.

“Based off my inbox, I know the people of Brighton are opposed to this abhorrent policy and I am with them all the way in Parliament.”

'Slogan, not a policy'

Labour councillor and former director of refugee charity Detention Action Bella Sankey also slammed the proposals, describing them as a “slogan, not a policy”.

She said: “It’s more of the same unworkable and incredibly nasty politics. This is a government that has run out of road - our NHS is in meltdown, the cost of living crisis is crippling our communities and this is pure distraction and deflection to try and make people fear other people and vote Conservative.”

Addressing MPs last week, Home Secretary Suella Braverman said failing to address the “waves of illegal immigrants breaching our border” would “betray” voters.

She said: “They will not stop coming here until the world knows that if you enter Britain illegally, you will be detained and swiftly removed.”