Reaction to Sajid Javid’s comments on asylum seekers

“Anyone who arrives in this country seeking safety from war or persecution should have their asylum claim considered. To reject it because we don’t like the manner in which they arrive would be illegal and is an affront to fairness and decency.

“The lack of safe options for people to claim asylum in the UK forces some to take dangerous boat journeys. If the Home Secretary is serious about protecting lives, he should provide more safe options for people seeking asylum. This includes changing the restrictive rules on family reunion so that people with relatives in the UK can apply to live with them.”