Dame Andrea Jenkyns ripped into "soft touch Britain" as she defended the anti-migrant hotel protests this weekend. It comes as police made six arrests during clashes as "Pink Lady" anti-migrant protesters descended on an east London hotel housing asylum seekers. The women, said to be local mothers, marched setting off pink flares and waving England flags at the four-star Britannia International in Canary Wharf. Some demonstrators carried a banner that said: "We're not far right but we're not far wrong. Don't gamble with our lives. Stop the boats." Speaking to GB News, the Reform UK Mayor for Greater Lincolnshire stated that "Britons have had no say" in the housing of illegal migrants in hotels and HMOs across the country. She added she finds the situation "heartbreaking" for the protestors.
Ms Jenkyns told GB News: "I want to focus on the people. The British public didn't ask for this, and they've had no say in this with both Governments. I wouldn't want it on my doorstep. And I don't blame every parent out there going out to peacefully protest for your children's safety and your children's future, I found it heartbreaking." Ms Jenkyns argued that as a parent, it is something Britons "shouldn't put up with any longer".
She continued: "As a parent, we should no longer have to put up with this, but it's not going to change why we continue to be soft touch Britain, which creates this pull and they keep coming over."
Host Ben Leo asked Ms Jenkyns what he would do to tackle the migrant crisis as she suggested offshore processing would be favoured by leader Nigel Farage.
"Well, in that press conference we did in London or about six weeks ago, Nigel said we would process them. We'd process them, send them back," she commented.
"We're looking into a host country to send them to as well, but the most important thing is we've got to stop these benefits. We've got to stop them getting cinema tickets, stop them going in HMOs, we've got to turn them back."
She added, "That's the only thing we can do. And on top of that, stop them getting a daily allowance."
Ms Jenkyns also addressed Shadow Justice Minister Robert Jenrick's appearance at the Epping anti-migrant hotel protest.
"Robert is still a mate, and I think anybody who goes to call it out, brilliant. But we cannot forget that Robert was the Immigration Minister.
"How many years was he the minister? Even as a backbencher, I was speaking out, holding debates and challenging the Government on it."
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