Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been accused of using “desperate and pathetic” language, after he took aim at lawyers and accused Labour of siding with “criminal gangs” for opposing the Government’s crackdown on illegal migration.
It comes after the Daily Mail alleged that multiple solicitors had agreed to help an undercover reporter posing as an economic migrant to submit a phoney application in exchange for thousands of pounds.
Lawyers are forbidden from misleading courts and they can be struck off by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) for dishonesty or a lack of integrity.
Mr Sunak said: “This is what we’re up against.
When all else is lost, the only place you have is the gutter— Labour frontbencher Jim McMahon
“The Labour Party, a subset of lawyers, criminal gangs – they’re all on the same side, propping up a system of exploitation that profits from getting people to the UK illegally.
“I have a plan to stop it.”
Energy Security Secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: “Labour seem to want criminal gangs & deceptive lawyers to decide who comes to the UK – that’s why they tried to block every vote on stopping the boats.”
The comments prompted criticism from Labour figures, while the Bar Council also accused Mr Sunak of “damaging rhetoric”.
Sam Townend KC, vice chair of the Bar Council, said: “Lawyers are not beyond reproach, and all professions have individuals who commit misconduct and are dishonest.
This damaging rhetoric undermines the rule of law, trust in lawyers and confidence in the UK legal system and is to be deplored— Sam Townend KC, Bar Council
“Regulators are there to discipline them.
“The comments by the Prime Minister, however, are clearly an attempt to play politics with the legal profession.
“This damaging rhetoric undermines the rule of law, trust in lawyers and confidence in the UK legal system and is to be deplored.”
Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry accused Mr Sunak of demeaning the role of Prime Minister.
She said: “Usually, I try and maintain some sense of respect for the office of the Prime Minister, but it’s just impossible when the man doing the job is willing to demean it like this.
“What a desperate attempt to deflect from his own dismal failures. Utterly pathetic.”
Labour frontbencher Jim McMahon, the shadow secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs, wrote: “When all else is lost, the only place you have is the gutter.
“Poor yes. Desperate and pathetic from Sunak too.”
Labour MP Chris Bryant, who chairs the Commons Standards Committee, condemned the Prime Minister’s language.
“In his desperation he has plumbed a new depth,” he said.
“My political opponents aren’t enemies, or enemies of the people or a ‘criminal gang’. He debases his office and forgets act as PM of the United Kingdom not seek to sow division.”
The Prime Minister’s comments, made on Twitter, received support from some Tory MPs.
Backbencher Brendan Clarke-Smith said the comments “hits the nail on the head”.
Earlier this year Labour was criticised for an attack on the Prime Minister after it ran an advert accusing him of not wanting to see child sex abusers jailed.
