TUV leader ‘won’t be lectured’ after pact party’s migrant remarks
TUV leader Jim Allister says he won’t be lectured by anyone who is “in partnership with Sinn Fein” after Ben Habib claimed migrants should “absolutely” be allowed to drown in the English Channel.
The deputy leader of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, which has formed an official partnership with the TUV for the upcoming general election, sparked outrage yesterday after claiming that Britain should let asylum seekers drown.
Mr Habib, the party’s Wellingborough parliamentary candidate, said those trying to reach UK shores in small boats should “suffer the consequences” of their decision.
Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie said legal and illegal immigration is an issue “to be taken very seriously” with a particular focus on people traffickers.
“But for anyone to say that it’s right to sit and watch people drown is absolutely appalling,” he said. “It’s extraordinary and awful”.
Mr Beattie called on Mr Allister to clarify if he agrees with “his new partner”. “If Jim Allister disagrees with Mr Habib he should come out and say so, he should say the comments were wrong and address them with his new partner. But that’s up to Jim,” he said.
Mr Habib has been severely criticised on social media for the remarks made on Talktv’s Julia Hartley-brewer programme just a day after a seven-year-old girl was among five migrants killed after being crushed on an overcrowded boat during an attempted crossing.
“Let’s not infantilise these people, they have free will,” Mr Habib said. “I’m not going to be held to ransom by their claim that they deserve protection as soon as they get into our territorial waters. If they choose to scupper that dinghy, then yes, they have to suffer the consequences of their actions.”
When the host asked “then you would leave them to drown?”, Mr Habib responded saying “absolutely”.
Mr Allister insisted Mr Habib’s comments must be seen “in the context they were made”.
“They are not comments I would have chosen to make, but his words must not be seen in isolation,” the North Antrim MLA said.
“But I won’t be taking any lectures from Doug Beattie or anyone else who is in partnership with Sinn Fein given the horrendous things they have said about violence and terror.”
Mr Allister said Mr Habib was talking specifically about a situation in which boats are intentionally damaged.
The controversial interview comes after Mr Sunak’s Rwanda deportation bill cleared parliament, with the PM promising to send asylum seekers to the east African nation in 10-12 weeks.