Former Home Secretary Priti Patel defends the Conservative Party's record on immigration, sparking internal controversy with Shadow Foreign Secretary Kemi Badenoch.
The Conservative Party is facing internal turmoil over its immigration record. Former Home Secretary Priti Patel defended the party's handling of the issue, which saw a record number of arrivals in 2022, while Shadow Foreign Secretary Kemi Badenoch criticized the party's performance.
Patel argued that much of the influx was due to humanitarian visas issued to Ukrainians and Hong Kongers, and that the government had a responsibility to manage immigration levels in accordance with economic needs. She defended the decision to end free movement with the EU, claiming it allowed for more skilled-based immigration. However, her comments were at odds with Badenoch, who has apologized for the high immigration numbers under the Conservatives and pledged to implement a hard cap on visas.The Conservative Party's spokesperson attempted to downplay the disagreement, emphasizing Badenoch's commitment to addressing past mistakes. Patel herself issued a statement acknowledging that immigration numbers had been too high and emphasizing the importance of learning from past errors. Despite these attempts at damage control, political rivals seized on Patel's remarks. Nigel Farage, a prominent figure in the Brexit movement, accused the Conservative Party of being proud of its disastrous immigration record. A Labour Party spokesperson criticized the Conservatives' lack of connection with reality, pointing to Patel's refusal to apologize for the record high net migration under their watch.The internal debate within the Conservative Party reflects a broader national debate about immigration in the UK. The issue has been particularly contentious since the UK's departure from the European Union, as the government gained greater control over its immigration policies. Different factions within the party hold varying views on the appropriate level of immigration and the best way to manage it. The Conservative Party's struggle to find a unified position on immigration is likely to continue as the UK grapples with the economic and social implications of Brexit and an increasingly globalized world
IMMIGRATION CONSERVATIVE PARTY PRITI PATEL KEMİ BADENOCH UK POLITICS BREXIT
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