Windrush scandal: Tory immigration policy is not like 'Nazi Germany', Michael Gove says

Michael Gove has rejected comparisons of Theresa May’s immigration policy to “Nazi Germany”, insisting that British attitudes to migrants were “positive, welcoming” and “forward looking”.

The Environment Secretary took exception to claims made by the former head of the civil service, Lord Kerslake, who last night suggested that ministers had likened Mrs May’s approach to illegal immigrants to “almost reminiscent of Nazi Germany”.

The peer, who advised Jeremy during last year’s election campaign, made the comments amid a growing row over the treatment of members of the Windrush generation, several of whom have been threatened with deportation for being unable to provide proof of their right to residency.

However, Mr Gove slapped down the suggestions during an interview on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, adding that he “had never heard anyone make that comparison before”.

“It’s not for me criticise a distinguished public servant like Lord Kerslake, but I respectfully disagree,” he added.

Asked to characterise the Government’s approach to immigration in the wake of the Brexit referendum, Mr Gove said Britain would remain “positive, welcoming, liberal, forward looking”.

He added that contrary to characterisations made by Remainers, recent findings by the European Union had revealed that Britain had the “warmest attitude” towards migration of any member state.

“What is striking is that Britain has the most liberal approach to migration of any European country,” he continued.

“We can see in the national conversation that we’ve had about the Windrush generation, that people are so glad that we’ve had this welcoming approach to people from abroad.

“My view of what is emblematic of Britain is the welcome we gave to the Windrush generation, the welcome we gave to people fleeing Idi Amin in the 1970s, the welcome we give to people fleeing persecution.

“Now that we’re outside of the European Union, we can have a truly colour blind immigration policy that, if the British people want to, treats people from the Bahamas in the same way as people from Bulgaria.”

It came after Lord Kerslake sought to lay blame for the Windrush scandal at Mrs May’s feet, claiming that “deep concerns” had been raised in 2014 when she pushed through immigration reforms as Home Secretary.

He told BBC’s Newsnight: "I think it was not just a question of the home secretary being told it was a challenging policy, the prime minister was as well.

"This was a very contested piece of legislation across government departments. Now, I can't say, and shouldn't say, as the former head of the civil service, precisely who gave what advice to whom.

“But, what I can tell you, it was highly contested and there were some who saw it, I shan't name them, as almost reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the way it's working."

Asked if he was referring to people in the civil service, Lord Kerslake said: "No, some in the ministers were deeply unhappy."

Pressed on whether ministers would have been warned of the consequences, he added that the risk was “obvious to everyone”.

"This was a conscious policy in order to hold on to a strong policy position that was proving very difficult to imply. I think it would be just quite wrong to land this on the civil service, basically.”

Lord Kerslake said it was "completely ridiculous" for Home Secretary Amber Rudd to try to blame civil servants for the Windrush situation, adding: "You cannot create a climate and then not expect it to have consequences."

The remarks came as Mrs May faced calls for an independent review of immigration policies, including the "hostile environment" initiative.

The call came as the Home Office said the number of Windrush cases being investigated had surged to 113.