Susanna Reid did not hold back on Good Morning Britain as she clashed with Yvette Cooper over migrant plans
Susanna Reid quizzed the Labour politician on GMB (Image: ITV)
Labour’s Home Secretary Yvette Cooper was urged to “be more honest” as Susanna Reid questioned her about the migrant crisis on Tuesday’s Good Morning Britain. The politician was doing the media rounds this morning as she appeared on the ITV show, where she was asked about the government’s “one in, one out” policy.
Susanna began the interview by pointing out that weeks into the policy, not one person has been returned to France, while 567 migrants have been allowed into the country. Getting straight into the brutal questioning, the ITV host demanded to know: “Why isn’t it [the scheme] up and running?” Cooper replied to say that the scheme has started already and is “on track”, pointing out that 35,000 people have already been returned this year, but this French agreement is a “new agreement”. “The treaty was signed just four weeks ago,” she argued.
Yvette Cooper was questioned over the migrant crisis (Image: ITV)
The Labour politician went on to explain that it was in process already, including detaining people on arrival at Dover and referring cases to France. She added that security checks are also been done.
But Susanna, unimpressed with the answer already given, interrupted to ask: “Well, ok. But when do we actually start sending people back?”
“We have always been clear that this is a pilot scheme and we need to get the processes in place,” Yvette replied. “So running significantly faster than the Conservatives’ previous Rwanda scheme. Which ran for two years, and didn’t send anyone back. So, it’s on track.”
Susanna didn’t hold back on her questions as she demanded more honesty (Image: ITV)
Susanna then cut in as she said: “Ok, but the trouble is there is a lot of mistrust at the moment with the government and your ability to control our borders and to get a grip on the crisis.
“So when you say, in July, it will begin within weeks then people naturally assume that is weeks and not months. So don’t you need to be a little bit more honest with people?”
The Minister was left stuttering as she reiterated that the scheme is “on track” and insisted that they have been “very clear that this is a pilot scheme” and will “need test systems”.
