Theresa May talks about ministers ‘taking responsibility’ over immigration policies in resurfaced video clip
Ms May says she is 'sick and tired' of Labour ministers 'not taking responsibility'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Pressure is mounting on Theresa May after a video clip of the prime minister demanding resignations over Labour’s failure to deal with immigration failings from 2004 has resurfaced online.
She is heard in the clip saying she was “sick and tired” of Labour ministers “not taking responsibility” for the “chaos” of its immigration and asylum policy.
She added that Labour had “lost control” and called on Beverley Hughes, then immigration minister, to resign over a visa scam scandal.
“Yes I think the government has lost control of its immigration and asylum policy. Frankly I think we see a degree of chaos in what is happening,” Ms May said in the video.
“I find it extraordinary that a Minister isn’t willing just to step up to the plate and take responsibility and it seems to me that you don’t have to take a Ministerial job, you don’t have to take the care and the extra pay and so forth.
“But when you do there is responsibility that has to be taken with it. And I’m actually sick and tired of government ministers in this Labour government who simply blame other people when something goes wrong and are not willing to take responsibility for what is happening under this government and their decisions,” she added.
Ms May's previous comments have increased pressure on the prime minister to sack home secretary Amber Rudd and immigration minister Carolines Nokes over their handling of the Windrush scandal.
She has already been forced to apologise for the “anxiety caused” by the treatment of British citizens, who arrived in the UK as children as far back as the 1940s.
It emerged that some Windrush immigrants were never fully naturalised and had subsequently lost their jobs, been refused medical care or been threatened with deportation as they did not have the right documentation.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments