Patel clashes with minister over ship role
MINISTERS were yesterday at war over whether Navy ships would intercept migrants.
Defence Minister James Heappey said last month they would not but Home Secretary Priti Patel said details were being debated.
Commons Home Affairs Select Committee chairwoman Diana Johnson asked whether Mr Heappey had therefore misled Parliament. Ms Patel said he had not. And she rejected claims by French President Emmanuel Macron the UK economy needs low-paid, “illegal” immigrant labour.
Arrivals last month were 1,300, up sixfold on January 2021, MPs heard.