Rylan Clark caused quite a stir online this week after his fiery rant about migration on ITV’s This Morning on Wednesday.
Rylan Clark made headlines this week after his fiery rant about migration on ITV’S This Morning led to major backlash online. The TV star stated there was “something wrong” with the way small boat arrivals are treated during an appearance on the breakfast show on Wednesday morning.
Rylan, 36, claimed there is a narrative that people who cross the Channel are told “welcome, come on in”. He added that many asylum seekers are given free phones and iPads but the reality is much more complex.
During Wednesday’s on-air discussion, he said the country is built on immigration and applauded medics from overseas who had treated his mum. However, he added that he found it “absolutely insane” that people were risking their lives to make the dangerous journey.
Rylan argued that Brits who don’t have their passport at airports get refused entry yet asylum seekers are “taken to a four-star hotel”.
Rylan has divided opinions online(Image: ITV)
His controversial remarks provoked a fierce reaction on social media.
Addressing the backlash yesterday, he wrote on Instagram:“Stop with this putting everyone in a box and maybe have conversations instead of shouting on Twitter. You can be pro immigration and against illegal routes.
“You can support trans people and have the utmost respect for women. You can be heterosexual and still support gay rights. This list continues.”
Rylan’s rant has now been fact checked by the Mirror below.
What Rylan said
Rylan alleged that small boat arrivals are presented with free phones and iPads. He said the narrative is “here’s the hotel, here’s the phones, here’s the iPad, here’s the NHS in reception of your hotel.”
What the reality is
The Home Office does not hand out mobile phones and iPads to new arrivals because these are not considered a basic necessity.
However, sometimes charities and churches may do so, along with basic items like clothes and food – which are not funded by taxpayers. Asylum seekers are entitled to free NHS care while their claims are being processed.
What Rylan said
Rylan claimed that if a British citizen turns up at Heathrow airport without their passport, they “won’t be let in” but small boat arrivals “get taken to a four-star hotel”.
What the reality is
A handful of four-star hotels, including the Britannia International in Canary Wharf, have been used for asylum seekers.
But the Home Office says despite previous ratings, these hotels provide only basic needs once their use changes.
It has previously stated: “If a hotel is used to house asylum seekers, the services and facilities it previously offered will therefore change, and its commercial star rating will cease to apply. As such, those ratings are not routinely recorded by the Home Office.”
What Rylan said
Rylan also claimed that there is a narrative that people are told “here’s three meals a day, here’s a games room in the hotel. Have a lovely time and welcome.”
What the reality is
The Home Office has a legal duty to ensure basic support is provided to destitute asylum seekers while their claims are processed.
As they are legally banned from working and cannot earn money, they receive a very small allowance. If their meals are provided they receive £9.95 a week per person, and if they are in self-catered accommodation their allowance is £49.18.
