Jabbot the Hut strikes again

Diane Abbott refuses SIX TIMES to say what SHE would do with illegal immigrants in her latest car crash interview

Diane Abbott repeatedly refused to say what she would do with illegal immigrants today.

In a toe-curling interview, the shadow home secretary dodged as she was pressed to spell out whether she would take action to expel those with no right to be in Britain.

Ms Abbott was asked six times by Piers Morgan on ITV's GMB whether illegal immigrants should be allowed to stay in the country.

She insisted Labour does not support an amnesty, as has been mooted by Boris Johnson among others.

But confusingly she add that it was 'not Labour's position' that up to a million people believed to be living illegally in the UK should be made to go home.

She also suggested the party would back targets for deportations in some areas of Home Office responsibility.

How Piers Morgan clashed with Diane Abbott over Labour's immigration policy
'The Labour Party would like to see perhaps as many as a million people deported... right?'

'That's not necessarily the result. What we need is a far more efficient system.'

'If you don't believe in an amnesty for the illegal immigrants... is it not logical to then assume Labour's position is we need to deport all those illegal immigrants?'

'That is not Labour's position. First of all we have to get an immigration and nationality department that is fit for purpose.'

'But what do you do with illegal immigrants if you don't give them amnesty to stay? Surely you want them to leave?'

'Many of the people currently here illegally came in legally and are actually overstaying.'

'I can't work out what your view is. Would you want to see people in that category given an amnesty and wanted to stay?'

'What I'm saying to you, is the immigration and national department is not fit for purpose... I don't blame the staff but it is the department that needs reviewing and reorganising.'

'With respect that's not an answer to my question. What is Labour's policy? Do you think they should be removed from the country or should they be allowed to stay here? It's not a difficult question.'

'Yes, we are working on an immigration policy. The main plank of what we want to do is have a fairer system.'

'I'm just going to ask one more time... should illegal immigrants be able to stay in this country or should they all be removed?'

'All I can say to you Piers is that people watching the programme will be surprised you don't want to talk about the immediate plight of the Windrush generation.'

'I genuinely want to know Diane. I'm not trying to trip you..'

'The logical fallout from the state the immigration and nationality directorate is in is to try and work towards an immigration and nationality directorate which is much more fair and much more efficient.'

'You keep saying that... I'm just trying to work out what Labour's view of illegal immigrants is: whether they should stay in the country or whether they should leave?

'I don't know why you're finding it hard to answer that question.'

'Of course there have to be targets. But for specific areas of Home Affairs work like deporting foreign national prisoners.'

In the awkward exchange, Morgan said: 'I can't work out what your view is. Would you want to see people of that category and given amnesty?'

Ms Abbott replied: 'What I'm saying to you, is the immigration and national department is not fit for purpose. I don't blame the staff but it is the department that needs reviewing and reorganising.'

Morgan insisted: 'With respect that's not an answer to my question. What is Labour's policy? Do you think they should be removed from the country? It's not a difficult question.'

Ms Abbott said: 'What I'm saying to you is that the immigration department is not fit for purpose, that is why many of these issues have arisen.'

Morgan then asked again: 'I'm not trying to trip you up. I'm just trying to work out what Labour's view of illegal immigrants is: whether they should stay in the country or whether they should leave?

'I don't know why you're finding it hard to answer the question.'

Ms Abbott replied: 'All I can say to you Piers is that for anybody watching, the question this morning is why you don't want to talk about the immediate plight of the Windrush generation.'

The presenters pointed out that

Ms Abbott suggested Labour would back some targets for deportations, but only in 'specific areas' of the Home Office's responsibility.

'Of course there have to be targets. But for specific areas of Home Affairs work like deporting foreign national prisoners,' she said.

Meanwhile, Theresa May mounted a staunch defence of targets for kicking out illegal immigrants today as she admitted the Windrush generation was 'caught up' in her crackdown.

The Prime Minister confirmed the targets were in force when she was in charge of the Home Office - and insisted the public wanted to know that people with no right to be in the UK would be deported.

But she said Windrush migrants should not have been involved in the process and the government was now taking steps to 'help those people'.

Ms Rudd admitted she had misled MPs last week by denying there were any deportation targets, saying she should have been 'aware' of them.

But asked whether she was aware of the targets this morning Mrs May was clear.

'When I was Home Secretary, yes, there were targets in terms of removing people who are here illegally. This is important,' she said.

'If you talk to members of the public they want to ensure we are dealing with people who are here illegally.

'It is only fair not just on hard working taxpayers, on those people who come here legally, that those who come her illegally are not able to carry on being here.

She added: 'We have seen the Windrush generation being caught up in a way that has caused anxiety among that generation. That is why we have set up a unit which is helping these people. They are British, they are part of us.'



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5673429/Diane-Abbott-refuses-say-illegal-immigrants.html

I don't think I have ever seen an in depth interview with her that wasn't toe curling tbh.
Horrible woman.