Tom Tugendhat claimed the UK is "by a long way not the most affected" nation by illegal immigration in Europe, GB News can reveal - as a new bombshell study found one in 100 people in Britain are illegal migrants.
In an audio clip, obtained by GB News, the Tory leadership candidate is heard comparing the quantity of illegal migration in the UK to other European countries and the US.
The secret clip was recorded at the Runnymede & Weybridge Conservative Association on August 21.
Tugendhat argued: "You may think it’s bad here, I’m not going to say it isn’t."
Tom Tugendhat has said the UK is "by a long way not the most affected" by illegal immigration in Europe in a leaked recording as a new study finds one in 100 people in Britain are illegalPAHe added: "While we are affected, of course we’re affected.
"We’re by a long way we’re not the most affected.
"This isn’t just about us," he said as he made the case for international cooperation as a key part of tackling migration.
In the leaked recording obtained by GB News, Tugendhat also claimed: "We need to change the refugee convention, working with partners around the world."
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Casting doubts on his previous comments about the European Convention on Human Rights, he said: "Standing up for international law and defending international law is so important".
Tugendhat was heard arguing that the number of illegal migrants in the UK is lower than other places in Europe.
He said: "We’re dealing with 40 to 50,000 illegal migrants in the last year or so. France is dealing with about 6 to 700,000; Germany about 800,000. Italy about two million. And the United States – I mean, God knows what it is now. Tens of millions. So this is a really big global problem."
However, a new study - led by Oxford University experts - found that there are up to 745,000 illegal migrants in the UK, which accounts for one in 100 of the population.
Tugendhat was heard arguing that the number of illegal migrants in the UK is lower than other places in Europe
PABritain's figures compare to the 300,000 illegal migrants in France and 700,000 in Germany, which has the second-largest population of illegal migrants.
It comes after 973 migrants in 17 small boats crossed the English Channel on Saturday - the highest number to arrive on a single day in 2024.
Tugendhat also appeared to take aim at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
The Tonbridge MP said: "We’ll make a real difference" in tackling migration, "not just shouting from the white cliffs and pretending that’s security. That’s not security, that’s showboating, and I’ve no time for it".
Responding to the latest figures Tom Tugendhat told GB News: "Our country is crying out for real leadership, but all we’ve seen from Keir Starmer is that he is incapable of providing it. His decision to scrap our only deterrent - despite illegal migration continuing to rise - shows just how weak he really is.
"These latest figures only reinforce the urgent need to tackle illegal migration, including by ensuring we have a strong deterrent and addressing human trafficking at its source. We cannot afford to play fast and loose with our nation's security.
"As Leader, I will remain steadfast in my commitment to putting the British people first and ending these unsustainable levels of illegal migration."
