Angela Rayner, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Education, commenting on leaked letters that suggest that, as Home Secretary, Theresa May wanted the children of illegal immigrants to go to the bottom of the list for school places, said:

“It is utterly abhorrent to punish innocent children due to the circumstances of their parents. This plan should serve as proof to everyone that the Nasty Party never really went away.

"We have a legal and moral obligation to educate these children. Not doing so leads to segregation and breeds extremism that puts us all at risk. It is shocking that as Home Secretary, Theresa May was prepared to behave in this way.   

“Children should not be used as pawns in Tory political games and schools should be protected as places of learning - not a replacement border force. 

“This is not the British way.  This is utterly disgraceful.”