Zia Yusuf clashes with presenter over parents migration from Sri Lanka | News

Reform’s head of policy, Zia Yusuf, clashed with a Sky News presenter during a debate on immigration after being asked about his parents’ decision to move to the UK from Sri Lanka in the 1980s.

Matt Barbet popped the question to Mr Youssef after criticizing the cost of illegal immigration to British taxpayers on his show on Sunday evening (November 16).

When asked why his parents chose to settle in the UK, Youssef said: “I don’t think it’s particularly relevant,” adding that the question implied “there is a limit to how restrictive immigration policy I can advocate because my parents are immigrants.”

Barbet denied the claim, saying he was merely asking whether the UK was seen as a caring and welcoming country at the time.

The change follows comments from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who announced that asylum seekers could automatically lose their right to housing support under Labour.