Humphrys claims Abbott 'would do the same' during tense interview over removal targets
RADIO 4 Today host John Humphrys ripped into Diane Abbott for struggling to explain "what exactly the Government has done wrong" as she continued to call for Amber Rudd's resignation following yesterday's leaked immigration memo.
Humphrys shuts down Abbott during interview on immigration scandal
A scandal has erupted over Ms Rudd's handling of the Home Office, with her Labour counterpart Diane Abbott calling for her resignation.
A leaked memo to the Guardian claimed Amber Rudd was included in a message last year detailing targets for migrant removal.
Earlier in the week, the Home Secretary denied this existed, telling MPs investigating the Windrush scandal there had not been targets for migrant removal.
Home Secretary Amber Rudd has since apologised for not being aware of "specific" migrant removal targets, adding that she had not seen the memo.
Mrs Abbott, who described the Home Secretary as "hanging by a thread" last night, went onto BBC Radio 4's Today programme to voice her fury over the scandal.
The Labour Shadow Home Secretary again called on Rudd to resign
A scandal has erupted over Mrs Rudd's control over her own Home Office department
Speaking to John Humphrys, the Labour Shadow Home Secretary claimed that she was "surprised" that Ms Rudd had not accepted responsibility for what had happened.
She said: "In terms of Amber Rudd, I am just surprised that she doesn't seem to take the issue seriously enough to offer her resignation."
However, when the Labour politician referenced the Windrush generation scandal instead of illegal immigration - which the memo dealt with - Humphrys intervened.
He said: "Thats not what this is about, you’re talking about Windrush, this is about illegal immigrants.
"Everybody in the country, except presumably those illegal immigrants, would want to see them removed. There is nothing wrong with that."
Mrs Abbott responded: "Of course, every government has targets.
"They had a broad numerical target for getting rid of illegal immigrants.
"That very broad target put pressure on Home Office officials to bundle Jamacian grandmothers into detention centres."
So, what was the Government done wrong here?
Humphrys fired back: "That is not quite how it worked though.
"We are talking here in the context of this memo about forced removals of illegal immigrants, people who shouldn’t be in this country at this time. Would not the Labour Party have done the same, with targets for removal of illegal immigrants?"
The Labour MP claimed "any government would have targets and performance indictators".
The Radio 4 host then added: "So, what was the Government done wrong here?"
Mrs Abbott claimed that the target was "too broad" which in turn made officials "bundle people who are British citizens out of the country."
A Downing Street spokesman said Ms Rudd retained the "full confidence" of the prime minister.