Overview
- In an interview reported by the Sunday Times, the Conservative MP said many people who came legally “will also need to go home” to leave a “mostly but not entirely culturally coherent” population.
- Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey wrote to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch calling the remarks “deeply concerning and unpatriotic” and asked for a clear condemnation.
- Labour MP Richard Quigley, Green Party leader Zack Polanski and Labour’s Rachael Maskell criticised the comments as divisive and unfair to people who followed the rules.
- Coverage noted the stance mirrors Reform UK proposals to scrap indefinite leave to remain, while Labour plans to restrict ILR to those with ten years’ residency and proven contribution.
- As of the latest reporting, the Conservatives have been pressed to state whether Lam’s view represents party policy, with no official repudiation recorded.