A British minister has attacked the “humanitarian nimbyism” practised by politicians who rhetorically welcome refugees but then fail to share the burden caused by illegal immigration.
In a speech at the centre-right Policy Exchange think tank on Tuesday, immigration minister Robert Jenrick defended the government’s Illegal Migration Bill and criticised opposition politicians and local authorities for virtue-signalling at taxpayers’ expenses.
He said: “For too long, our migration debate has been dominated by humanitarian nimbyism, whereby members of Parliament and devolved administrations have rhetorically welcomed refugees, but then failed to take their fair share. They declare themselves nations of sanctuary and then pull up the drawbridge….