Overview

• During a 27 August segment on ITV’s This Morning, Clark praised immigrant NHS staff and criticised the handling of small-boat arrivals, saying “something major needs to be done.”
• Hours later he posted, “You can be pro immigration and against illegal routes,” in a statement on Instagram and X calling for nuanced discussion.
• Reaction online was sharply divided, with critics alleging dog-whistle language and misinformation and supporters saying he voiced public frustrations; right‑wing activist Tommy Robinson was among those praising him, according to PinkNews.
• This Morning colleagues Josie Gibson and Rob Rinder publicly backed his clarification, and Clark returned to the programme the next day without revisiting the row.
• Coverage placed his comments in the context of Reform UK leader Nigel Farage’s proposal to deport up to 600,000 people over five years and ongoing disputes over asylum accommodation and removals policy.