Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner resorted to angry name-calling as she was challenged to explain why the Government put children at risk by failing to deport a foreign paedophile. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp raised the case in Prime Minister’s Questions of a convicted Zimbabwean paedophile who was allowed to stay in Britain because he would face hostility if he was sent home. A court ruled deportation would threaten his human rights.
Mr Philp said: “What about the rights of childrern here to be protected?” Questioning Ms Rayner, who was standing in for Sir Keir Starmer, he demanded: “Why did the Government side with foreign criminals and not the British public?” And he attacked “priority given to illegal immigrants” in housing. But Housing Secretary Ms Rayner hit back, claiming she would not be lectured by a “Johnny-come-lately who couldn’t do anything when he was in office”.
At one point, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle halted proceedings and appealed for calm as Mr Philp, who was standing in for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, and Ms Rayner shouted at each other, with backbench MPs adding to the din.
The Shadow Home Secretary began by asking why Sir Keir once accused Conservative MPs demanding a national inquiry into grooming gangs of jumping on a “far-Right bandwagon”.
Mr Philp said: “Smearing campaigners standing up for rape victims as far-Right is completely unacceptable and the Prime Minister should never have said that.”
He called for an apology, but Ms Rayner refused to give one, saying the Prime Minister was attacking Conservative MPs who failed to act to tackle the problem – a claim the Tories deny.
Mr Philp went on to demand that the Government take tougher action to stop small boat crossings.
Ms Rayner insisted: “He was the man at the heart of the Home Office when immigration soared.”
But Mr Philp said: “If she wants to find out who has lost control of our borders, I suggest she look to her immediate right,” where Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was sitting.
And he pointed out that 2025 has been the worst year in history for illegal immigrants crossing the Channel.
“The Government’s laughable plan to smash the gang lies in tatters,” he said.
“So will she now at last accept we need a removals deterrent so every single illegal immigrant arriving on these shores is immediately removed. Will she commit to that, yes or no?”
Ms Rayner ignored the question, saying: “It’s absolute rubbish. They lost control of our borders.” Mr Philp said the Deputy Prime Minister had a “brass neck” to blame the Tories.