A LABOUR MP has sparked fury for demanding illegal migrants be given British citizenship - because we granted it to Paddington Bear. Stella Creasy said small boat asylum seekers should get the same welcoming treatment as the cuddly kids character. She hit out at her own party’s crackdown on them ever gaining UK citizenship as part of Home Office efforts to deter Channel crossings. Border officials have been given toughened new guidance to deny the rights to almost all illegal migrants.
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Walthamstow MP Ms Creasy said this would deny those whose asylum claim was granted from integrating into communities with full citizenship. She added: “It would deny, well, frankly, Paddington. Paddington did the same thing. He came on an irregular route, we gave him sanctuary but wouldn’t give him a passport.”. Doubling down on LBC, she said: “Denying people a voice isn't the British way forward. We are also the nation which takes great pride in the story of Paddington.
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“He was a stowaway from Peru and he went to have tea with the Queen. Wasn't that a beautiful British moment that everyone celebrated?. "We have to have strong border controls, but we also have to have dignity and decency.”. While the Home Office distanced themselves from the remarks, critics said they threatened Labour’s reputation on borders. Politics professor Anthony Glees said: “If Labour are determined to lose the next election and learn nothing from Trump's victory, no power on earth can stop them.”.
