Abbott dodges migrant questions

LABOUR’S attempt to exploit Amber Rudd’s resignation descended into farce yesterday when Diane Abbott refused to say whether the party would deport illegal immigrants.

In a toe-curling live TV interview, the shadow home secretary declined to set out the opposition stance on border control.

Her stonewalling on ITV’s Good Morning Britain sparked a clash with host Piers Morgan.

Ms Abbott said Labour did not support Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson’s idea of an amnesty for illegal migrants who had no criminal record and lived in the UK for 10 years.

But she insisted it was “not Labour’s position” that up to a million people illegally in the UK should be made to leave.

Spat

Ms Abbott said she was working on making border controls “fairer and more efficient”.

She added: “The immigration and nationality department is not fit for purpose. That’s why these issues have arisen. I don’t blame the staff, it is a department that needs reviewing and reorganising and the right level of support.”

The pair continued their spat later on Twitter, with Ms Abbott saying that viewers would judge whether Mr Morgan was trying to trap her.

Morgan said he was not, and accused her of failing to give “a straight factual answer to this fundamental question”.

Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: “Diane Abbott’s refusal to say whether she would ever deport anyone who was here illegally exposes the fact that Labour has an open-door immigration policy.”