David Cameron under fire over 'bunch of migrants' comment

David Cameron came under fire today for describing people in The Jungle camp in Calais as a “bunch of migrants”.

The Refugee Council said Mr Cameron’s comments were “disappointing” while Labour called them “disgraceful”.

Critics said his words were particularly inappropriate on Holocaust Memorial Day.

Several MPs believed the Tory leader was deliberately controversial in his choice of words to draw attention to Jeremy Corbyn’s offer to give homes in the UK to 3,000 people at the camp in France.

The row erupted after Mr Cameron mocked Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at Prime Minister’s Questions, accusing him of caving in to the unions over strike laws and to Argentina over the Falklands. He went on: “They met with a bunch of migrants in Calais, they said they could all come to Britain.”

Mr Corbyn, who visited The Jungle last weekend, did not respond, but later a senior Labour source said: “The people we saw at Calais and Dunkirk over the weekend were families, kids, babies... to consider those people we saw as a ‘bunch of migrants’ demonstrates an attitude that is entirely unacceptable to a humanitarian crisis on our doorstep.”

Lisa Doyle, the Refugee Council’s head of advocacy said: “When we are facing the greatest refugee crisis of our time, it is disappointing the Prime Minister is using flippant remarks to score political points.

“We have all seen the pictures of the desperate conditions people are living in across Europe, including just miles from the UK’s border. The Prime Minister should be showing political leadership and work with other European countries to ensure that people can live in safety and dignity.”

MPs were queuing up to condemn the bunch of migrants remark.

Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said: “On Holocaust Memorial Day, the Prime Minister chose to refer to desperate refugees fleeing from war as a ‘bunch of migrants’, a statement which diminishes his office and our country.

“Whether Mr Cameron planned to use this phrase in advance or whether it was an off the cuff throw away remark it shows his true attitude towards those most in need.”

Comedian David Baddiel also expressed concern, writing: “Not the right day #HolocaustMemorialDay for the bunch of migrants thing.”

Former shadow cabinet minister Chuka Umunna said the comment was “shameful” and criticised the language as “inflammatory and unbecoming of his office”.

Yvette Cooper, who is leading Labour’s refugee task force, suggested the PM should use “much more statesmanship-like” language on such a “complex and sensitive” issue.

Business minister Anna Soubry said she would “not necessarily” have used the term “bunch of migrants”, and she was “sure” the PM meant to say “group”.

“I think what everybody forgets is that in the heat of things one says things that you might say in a conversation, by way of example, but you wouldn’t necessarily say when it was analysed and picked apart,” she told BBC Radio 4’s World At One.

“On the one hand people say, ‘Oh God, all politicians they sound the same, they sound like they’ve been schooled and they are trotting out the lines’.

“But actually when they don’t, and actually use the language of ordinary people they get slammed and criticised.

“I will not criticise the PM on this one because I know that when you’re standing at the despatch box ... and you have all the noise and the row around you it is very easy to use a word which on reflection may not be the best way.

“I am sure he meant to say a group, but we all use slang.”

She added: “I would be amazed if that was a scripted line. I don’t believe that for one moment. If anybody says that they are being silly and playing cheap politics.”

Asked whether Mr Cameron thought his choice of words was acceptable, a senior Downing Street source said: “The Prime Minister thinks that the key thing here is to get the policies right, and I think that’s what the people of Britain are concerned about.

“The policy we are proceeding with is to give nearly £1.2 billion to support people who have been forced from their homes by the Syrian conflict with shelter and food, and also to take refugees from the region rather than providing an incentive for people to make that dangerous journey.”