Suella defiant over her migrant attack

SUELLA Braverman yesterday defended her controversial remarks on migration after facing a storm of criticism, including from Sir Elton John.

- Michael Knowles

The Home Secretary had said offering asylum to a person because they are discriminated against in their home country for being gay or a woman was not sustainable.

Her comments, made in a speech to a US think tank this week, were met with a backlash from charities and the UN refugee agency.

Sir Elton was among those who criticised her comments, saying that Ms Braverman risked "further legitimising hate and violence" against LGBT+ people and calling for "more compassion".

But Ms Braverman yesterday said it was "prudent" for political leaders to call out unprecedented levels of migration to Western nations.

Last night, she courted more controversy after claiming that asylum seekers "pretend to be gay" to "game the system". In a speech she had claimed being gay in countries hostile to homosexuality isn't "enough" to justify asylum claims.