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| Conservative MP claims he can't get a haircut because refugees are 'going on holiday' | Conservative MP claims he can't get a haircut because refugees are 'going on holiday' |
| (4 months later) | |
| A Conservative MP caused uproar in the House of Commons after he claimed that refugees "going on holiday to the places they fled from" are preventing him from getting a haircut. | A Conservative MP caused uproar in the House of Commons after he claimed that refugees "going on holiday to the places they fled from" are preventing him from getting a haircut. |
| Adam Holloway, the MP for Gravesham, was speaking during an emergency debate called by Yvette Cooper on the refugee crisis. | Adam Holloway, the MP for Gravesham, was speaking during an emergency debate called by Yvette Cooper on the refugee crisis. |
| He said: "It’s quite possible to be a refugee and an economic migrant, and I think that’s one of the appalling truths, if you like, of the Syrian bodies that are being washed up on the beaches. | He said: "It’s quite possible to be a refugee and an economic migrant, and I think that’s one of the appalling truths, if you like, of the Syrian bodies that are being washed up on the beaches. |
| "They previously got to safe countries and now they’re choosing to come in Europe… | "They previously got to safe countries and now they’re choosing to come in Europe… |
| "We have people in this country who have come here, have claimed asylum, and then they go back on holiday in the places they’ve claimed asylum from. | "We have people in this country who have come here, have claimed asylum, and then they go back on holiday in the places they’ve claimed asylum from. |
| "I couldn't have my hair cut the other day for that reason." | "I couldn't have my hair cut the other day for that reason." |
| Downing Street has reportedly distanced itself from the backbench MP and ex-journalist after he made his comments, which drew cries of protest in the Commons. | Downing Street has reportedly distanced itself from the backbench MP and ex-journalist after he made his comments, which drew cries of protest in the Commons. |
| In the same debate Mr Holloway said that European countries offering asylum to refugees fleeing to the West were "bonkers" and said this was not a xenophobic position. | In the same debate Mr Holloway said that European countries offering asylum to refugees fleeing to the West were "bonkers" and said this was not a xenophobic position. |
| Stella Creasy criticised him for his comments, saying: "It’s not a pull factor. It’s fleeing for your life that’s making people take this risk." | Stella Creasy criticised him for his comments, saying: "It’s not a pull factor. It’s fleeing for your life that’s making people take this risk." |
| Germany's vice chancellor Sigmar Gabriel today said the country could take roughly half a million asylum seekers for several years to come. | |
| In Finland, the country’s prime minister opened his home to asylum seekers and pledged to take 30,000 refugees by the end of 2015 – more than the UK is planning to take over five years. | In Finland, the country’s prime minister opened his home to asylum seekers and pledged to take 30,000 refugees by the end of 2015 – more than the UK is planning to take over five years. |