Conservative MP Katie Lam Faces Backlash Over 'Culturally Coherent' Deportation Remarks

MP's Comments Spark Controversy

Conservative MP Katie Lam, who represents Weald of Kent and serves as a Shadow Home Office Minister, has ignited a political firestorm following remarks made in an interview with The Sunday Times in October 2025. Lam suggested that a significant number of legally settled families in the United Kingdom should have their right to remain revoked and be deported. Her stated rationale was to ensure the UK becomes 'mostly but not entirely culturally coherent'.

The specific comments that drew widespread condemnation included her assertion: 'Everybody who's in this country illegally I think needs to go home. There are also a large number of people in this country who came here legally, but in effect shouldn't have been able to do so. It's not the fault of the individuals who came here, they just shouldn't have been able to do so. They will also need to go home. What that will leave is a mostly but not entirely culturally coherent group of people.'

Widespread Condemnation Follows Remarks

The statements prompted immediate and strong reactions from across the political spectrum and media. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey was among the first to condemn Lam's comments, describing them as 'deeply concerning and unpatriotic' in a letter addressed to the Conservative party leader. Davey emphasized that individuals who have legally settled in the UK, adhered to regulations, and established their homes, should not be told to 'go home' as 'This is their home'. The Liberal Democrats have also called for the Conservative party to clarify whether Lam's views reflect the party's official stance.

Prominent LBC presenter James O'Brien also weighed in, labeling Lam's remarks as 'the single most hideous thing a mainstream politician has said' in his lifetime. He further characterized her comments as an 'extraordinary breach of what I would describe as the basic tenets of common decency'.

Background and Context of Lam's Stance

Katie Lam, elected as an MP in July 2024, has been identified as a 'rising star' within the Conservative party. She previously served as a special adviser to Boris Johnson and held roles within the Home Office. Her recent comments align with a broader hardline stance on immigration she has articulated previously. Lam has advocated for stricter border controls and the removal of individuals deemed not to have 'contributed enough' or who are residing in the UK illegally. She has also publicly stated her belief that 'the whole concept of asylum' is outdated for the 21st century.

Observers have noted that Lam's position bears similarities to the policies proposed by Reform UK, particularly regarding the potential scrapping of indefinite leave to remain status. Interestingly, Lam's personal history includes her paternal grandparents' families fleeing persecution, with many relatives killed in the Holocaust, a background she has acknowledged can influence perspectives on immigration.