‘The public aren’t fools!’ Unearthed clip shows Patel pledging to curb migration after refusing to apologise to GB News

The Witham MP, who is running to replace Rishi Sunak as leader, is now being accused of taking the public for “fools” after snapping at GB News’ Christopher Hope over whether she should apologise for the migrant crisis.

In the February 2020 interview, the then-Home Secretary said: “We will bring overall numbers down by reducing the number of people with low-skills coming to the United Kingdom but also by ending Freedom of Movement by our exit from the European Union.”

However, Patel appeared frustrated yesterday after being quizzed on her immigration record in the Home Office.

After being asked whether she would apologise, Patel told Chopper’s Political Podcast: “I think we have to look at context, first of all. So, and remember this, in the 2019 election campaign I was absolutely crystal clear, we as a party stood on a platform for a points-based system.

“And do you know why that was? A lot of people didn’t want to write about it or report on that at the time but a points-based system means the Government of the day has levers to control immigration numbers, that is a fact.”

She added: “During my time as Home Secretary, I was bringing in a whole system of reforms and that was on legal migration, a points-based system, and we can come onto illegal migration because that is separate and the two should never be conflated.

“But on legal migration, let’s not forget, in 2020 onwards we had the pandemic. So, what did the Government choose to do? And I think it was absolutely the right thing to do. We gave the NHS everything the support that it needed through health and care visas. Are we going to say that was the wrong thing to do?”

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Patel concluded: “I think it’s too lazy, if I may say so, I think it’s really quite sloppy just to go the merry-go-round on this.

"During the pandemic, our borders were effectively closed, there was no travel. What about all those international students that came in after the pandemic? Are we saying they should not have come into the country?”

Patel spoke highly of her points-based measures to ensure high-skilled migrants were arriving in the UK post-Brexit.

The Witham MP initially set the minimum salary threshold to £25,600, lower than the average income in Poland, Latvia and Estonia.

James Cleverly oversaw the minimum salary threshold being hiked to £38,700.

However, the 2019 Tory Party manifesto reiterated the Conservatives’ commitment to reduce net numbers.

“There will be fewer lower-skilled migrants and overall numbers will come down,” the manifesto said.

But Boris Johnson dropped any firm commitment to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands ahead of his thumping 2019 victory.

When asked if Patel would support a return to David Cameron’s commitment, the Witham MP coyly said: “We have the levers of control. Provided we can balance what the country needs and the skills then obviously we can do that.”

Net migration stood at 764,000 in 2022, data compiled by the Office for National Statistics has revealed.

The figure dropped slightly to 685,000 in 2023, well-above the 306,000 recorded on the eve of the 2016 Brexit referendum and 184,000 ahead of the 2019 General Election.

Channel crossings have also increased over the period after sitting at just 1,843 in 2019.

A record-breaking 45,774 made the perilous 21-mile journey in 2022, dropping to 29,437 in 2023.

However, 18.573 have already crossed the Channel this year amid fears the figure could return to record highs.

Patel’s decision not to apologise for her handling of the migrant crisis while in the Home Office sparked a fervent backlash.

“Priti created the most liberal migration system in our history. The public aren’t fools - they know they’ve been lied to,” a top Tory source told GB News.

A veteran Brexit campaigner added: “Patel is trying to defend the indefensible. Her track record as Home Secretary would make the architects of New Labour’s open border agenda blush.

“Although there are many others in the Tory party that must also bear responsibility, it is jarring to see Patel - the so-called darling of the right - try and gaslight the British public by telling us that we should be thankful for having our communities decimated, and our public services abused, by mass migration.

“This should be the final nail in the coffin of what was already looking like a rather lacklustre leadership bid.”

Patel has been asked about her friendship with Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as the Tory Party looks to distance itself from the populist party after suffering its worst election result in 1906.

A Reform UK spokesperson told GB News: "Once again the mask slips and the true identity of the Conservative Party is revealed. They are the architects and champions of mass immigration.

"Priti Patel should be apologising for her actions in Government, instead she tries to defend the indefensible. She has betrayed the British people once before in Government and she would betray them again if given the chance."