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Jenrick says even ‘legal migration’ is harmful to UK

Related: Yvette Cooper calls out Reform and Tories for ‘shouting at sea’ over asylum system debate
  • Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, has called for asylum seekers to be detained in "rudimentary prisons" rather than current housing arrangements.
  • He criticised Reform UK's immigration plan, saying their proposals for housing asylum seekers do not go far enough and should be more restrictive.
  • Mr Jenrick also told The Spectator that “legal migration“ is "even more harmful" to the UK than asylum seekers due to high numbers, advocating for a period of net emigration for low-skilled individuals.
  • His views were partly influenced by attending a protest outside the Bell Hotel in Epping, which became a focal point for anti-migrant sentiment.
  • This follows previous actions as immigration minister where he ordered the removal of cartoon murals from a child asylum seeker reception centre, deeming them too welcoming.
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