A charity has hit back at the Tory deputy chairman’s claims
New Conservative deputy chairman Lee Anderson has said that Calais refugee charities are “just as bad as people smugglers”. The outspoken MP for Ashfield, who was given the post by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during his recent reshuffle, accused the northern France-based organisations of “fuelling” migrants’ desire to cross the English Channel in small boats.
Mr Anderson claimed that on a recent trip to Calais with the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, he saw “hundreds of young men” being helped by workers at the British Care4Calais charity, according to the newspaper. He believed the migrants were “encouraged” to make the dangerous crossing by being taught English by the volunteers.“They weren’t fleeing any war, or persecution, they told us that they wanted to come for a better life in the UK,” Mr Anderson told the paper.
“We see the real life consequences of people smuggling; that is why we campaign for safe routes for people who want to seek asylum in the UK.” The volunteer-run charity distributes aid to refugees sleeping rough in and around Calais – many of whom have fled war, persecution and political oppression, according to its website.
He drew criticism earlier this month by calling for the return of the death penalty in an interview with The Spectator magazine a few days before his appointment.
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