Danny Kruger, the Reform UK MP and former Conservative, has sparked significant backlash after claiming that asylum seekers arriving via small boats are comparatively wealthy men who do not merit the assistance of the British state. Speaking at the Big Brue festival in Somerset, Kruger argued that the ability of migrants to pay people smugglers thousands of pounds serves as evidence of their financial means. When pressed by moderator Geordie Greig on how he reached this conclusion, Kruger suggested that those spending such sums should not take precedence over others who he believes are more deserving of taxpayer compassion.
Charity organizations and refugee advocates were quick to dismiss these claims as inaccurate. Seema Syeda from the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants pointed out that many asylum seekers arrive in states of total destitution, often living on as little as eight pounds a week while being barred from working. She emphasized that regardless of financial status, individuals fleeing war and genocide possess a fundamental human right to safety, noting that some displacements are tied to historical or current British foreign policy.
The controversy extended beyond finances as Kruger defended previous inflammatory comments made by fellow Reform figure Matt Goodwin, who recently referred to some immigrants as drug dealing goat herders. Kruger stated that such descriptions could be considered factual and expressed deep concerns regarding a perceived cultural transformation within the UK. He warned that continuing down a path of multiculturalism and what he termed elite virtue signaling could eventually lead the country toward a civil war.
Adding to his critique, Kruger suggested that second and third generation immigrants pose a greater challenge than new arrivals, arguing that later generations have become alienated from mainstream British society. This stance drew sharp criticism from Rachel Millward of the Green Party, who accused Reform UK of being funded by billionaires while attacking the most vulnerable members of society. Millward urged politicians to stop stoking division following recent anti immigrant unrest and called instead for the creation of safe legal routes to prevent dangerous channel crossings.
