UK immigration minister under fire
December 09 2009 by Liam Clifford
UK Immigration minister Phil Woolas defends his department against a backlash of criticism.
UK Immigration minister Phil Woolas has controversially claimed that UK border officials are "risking their lives" for Britain.
Mr Woolas said he believed staff at the Border Agency were "extremely brave" as he rejected comments from Labour MP Keith Vaz that bonuses totalling more than £295,000 for senior officials were too high.
Mr Vaz, currently the chairman for the Commons home affairs select committee, denounced the costs as "astonishing" given the current problems at the agency, including the revelations that 40,000 cases have been discarded and currently stand unsolved.
But Mr Woolas told a BBC journalist:
"I think the agency should be praised. They are very brave men and women who protect our borders and they are getting on top of the situation. The chair of the select committee has said we are not yet fit for purpose and I'm defending my staff who put their lives on the line for us."
The comments were said to have been received with incredulity by other MP’s as the 100th British troop member killed in Afghanistan was announced.
Mr Woolas was speaking out following a unsympathetic report by the home affairs committee into his department and the UK immigration system.
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