Tory MP accused of playing up to racist stereotypes about asylum seekers

Jill Mortimer faces criticism after claiming her office was ‘besieged by asylum seekers’ and her staff were intimidated by young men

A Conservative MP has been accused of playing up to racist stereotypes after claiming that her office was “besieged by asylum seekers” and that her staff were intimidated by young men, most of whom she said should be expelled as “illegal migrants”.

Jill Mortimer told Rishi Sunak during prime minister’s questions in the House of Commons that people in her constituency of Hartlepool were “afraid and angry”.