Labour’s “one in, one out” migrant exchange deal has sparked a fiery row on GB News after the first two migrants were deported back to France.
Debating the deal on GB News, commentator Claire Pearsall shut down GB News Senior Political Commentator’s praise of the Government’s progress, declaring “you’re celebrating two people!”
An Eritrean man has become the second migrant to be deported under the Government’s “one in, one out” scheme with France, having previously had his removal blocked by the High Court.
The Home Office confirmed the migrant was on the Air France flight at 6:15am this morning, bound for Paris.
Criticising the number of migrants which have been removed so far, Ms Pearsall told the GB News panel: “We have had two this week, how many are we taking in at the weekend from France? That number seems to vary depending on which day of the week it is.
“We will be getting migrants, I believe, on Saturday coming over from France, but it really is no deterrent whatsoever.”
Pointing out the small percentage of migrants being selected for deportation, she added: “You’re looking at a pretty much a one in 18 chance of being sent back to France, and you do wonder how many people are going to look at this.
“The criminal gangs will just change their ways of dealing with it by probably offering a free journey back or something like that.”
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Criticising the agreement further, Ms Pearsall argued: “It isn’t anything to write home about, and it’s not really a success. Two people doesn’t add up to anywhere near the 35,000 that have come across the Channel.”
Mr Nelson defended the deal, hitting back: “You’ve got to start somewhere, this is week one!”
Shutting down Mr Nelson’s remarks, Ms Pearsall stated: “35,000 have come across the Channel and you’re celebrating two people, one of whom is Indian?!”
He responded: “We knew there were going to be legal challenges, and those legal challenges were priced in by the Government.”
Interjecting the row, host Stephen Dixon told Mr Nelson that the deal began “two months ago”, to which he stated: “It was agreed two months ago, the idea was.
“This is the first week we’re actually physically going to try and move people. The Government knew very well what would happen, there would be legal challenges, so they’re sorting those challenges out.”
Highlighting that the scheme now enables asylum seekers to “apply from abroad” rather than on British soil, Mr Nelson concluded: “The most important thing is that for the first time, we are actually allowing people to effectively apply for asylum from abroad.
“Up until now, they’ve had to do it on British soil, which is one of the reasons that is encourage people to cross the Channel.”
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