Suella Braverman calls 'broken' immigration system an 'invasion on south coast'

Suella Braverman has warned of the “invasion of our southern coast” as she defended her handling of the Kent asylum centre crisis.

The embattled home secretary also insisted she had never blocked the procurement of hotels to ease the pressure on the centre.

She claimed that “some 40,000 people” have crossed the English channel this year as she addressed the wider immigration situation.

She told the Commons: “Let me be clear this is a global migration crisis.

“We have seen an unprecedented number of attempt to illegally cross the channel in small boats.

“Some 40,000 people have crossed this year alone. More than double the number of arrivals by the same point last year.”