Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email

       Please enter a valid email address

       Please enter a valid email address

       SIGN UP

       I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice

       Thanks for signing up to the

       View from Westminster email

       {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }}

       Home secretary Suella Braverman delivered remarks at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington DC on Tuesday, 26 September.

       In comments that have been seized upon by her critics, Ms Braverman said that offering asylum to a person because they are gay, a woman or fearing discrimination in their home country is not sustainable.

       Mrs Braverman said a worldwide poll by US analytics company Gallup found that 4% of adults who wanted to permanently leave their homeland – approximately 40 million people – had named Britain as their preferred destination.

       Mrs Braverman also argued that the threshold for asylum has been steadily lowered since the UN Refugee Convention was ratified more than 70 years ago.

       She questioned whether the 1951 accord is “fit for our modern age” and asked allied administrations to consider whether it is “in need of reform”.

       Recommended Fear of being branded ‘racist’ hindering global asylum reform, says Braverman West faces existential threat if global asylum rules not tightened – Braverman What is the Refugee Convention and how does it influence UK asylum policy?

       Ms Braverman’s decision to call into question the UN accord comes against a backdrop of domestic struggles to control irregular migration numbers.

       Her comments have been criticised by Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, who told The Independent: “Everything Braverman says is about a future leadership election. It’s a classic dog whistle to the Tory membership who are increasingly right-wing.”

       “It’s shameful that we have a home secretary that’s prepared to play politics with people’s lives. She doesn’t seem to realise that simply being gay is enough to result in persecution or death in many countries.”

       More about Suella Braverman American Enterprise Institute Washington DC Home Secretary gay refugee status Asylum discrimination Independent Live Streams

       Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

       Comments

       1/ 1Live: Braverman delivers speech on migrant crisis in Washington DC

       Live: Braverman delivers speech on migrant crisis in Washington DC

       Home Secretary Suella Braverman is set to express concern about the Refugee Convention (Peter Byrne/PA)

       PA Wire

       ？ Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

       Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

       Subscribe

       Already subscribed? Log in