‘Values and lifestyles’ of small boat refugees threaten social cohesion, says Jenrick

Comments by immigration minister criticised as being straight from the far right's playbook'

The values and lifestyles" of people crossing the Channel in small boats threaten the UK's social cohesion, the immigration minister has claimed, in comments that have been described as dog-whistling to the far right".

Amid predictions that there could be a new surge in crossings by people fleeing the conflict in Sudan, Robert Jenrick said uncontrolled illegal migration" threatened to cannibalise" the UK's compassion and argued that recent protests at hotels should be heeded as a warning to politicians.