'Rubbish!' BBC Breakfast viewers skewer Labour MP in car crash interview

BBC Breakfast viewers quickly took to social media with fury after Government minister Catherine McKinnell was questioned about two Labour councils that are considering legal challenges against the use of hotels to house asylum seekers in their areas. This comes after Epping Forest District Council successfully won a bid to stop the Bell Hotel from housing migrants, after thousands of locals took to the streets in protest.

The programme's presenter, Naga Munchetty, asked the politician: "There are two Labour-run local authorities, Wirral and Tamworth councils, which have said that they're considering legal action to stop the use of these hotels to house migrants. Kemi Bandenoch, leader of the Conservative Party, has said she'll encourage legal attempts. Will the Labour Party be encouraging these legal attempts?" But as McKinnell began: "We inherited an absolute mess of an immigration system from the previous government," viewers quickly issued backlash as one raged: "Usual rubbish spouting. They all sound like stuck records."

A second viewer echoed: "Strange how she gave exact same response word for word on gmb."

"Have you ever had anyone form this government come on and not compare themselves to the last government? It's like a murderer saying 'Well I haven't killed as many as he has' As a justification for their failures," fumed another.

"No answers as per usual....ypu inherited around 213 hotels, only 13 or 14 have closed?!" wrote a fourth.

As one viewer agreed: "Same old mantra- always using the tories as the whipping boy!!"

During the BBC Breakfast interview, McKinnell continued: "At it's peak, they had 400 hotels housing asylum seekers, it's now down to 210, we're determined to end the use of hotels for asylum seekers by the end of this parliament.

"We're working very hard towards that end, and there are two ways that we achieve that, obviously by looking at an alternative accommodation for asylum seekers currently awaiting their decision, but also by processing those decisions more quickly."

As the MP continued: "Fundamentally, we inherited a huge backlog," Naga interrupted: "As a result, Wirral and Tamworth councils are now looking at this, would you encourage them to take this legal action becasue they feel it's necessary, where they are."

McKinnell responded: "It wouldn't be appropriate for me to comment on ongoing legal processes, and I think it's important that the government works really closely with local authorities to manage these circumstances within local communities.

"We recognise the legitimate concerns, the efforts that local authorities are making to make sure they have the situation within their locality that is appropriate for them, and we'll continue to work with local authorities.