Tory MP Adam Holloway claims asylum seeker stopped him from getting a haircut

Adam Holloway spoke in today's emergency debate
parliamentlive.tv
Hannah Al-Othman8 September 2015
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A Tory MP has made a sensational claim that he was prevented from getting his haircut by asylum seekers.

Adam Holloway, who is MP for Gravesham in Kent, made the bizarre statement during a debate on the refugee crisis, called for by Labour leadership hopeful Yvette Cooper.

The backbench MP and former journalist spoke for 20 minutes during today's debate, and made the claim that asylum seekers go on holiday to the countries that they have fled.

He then said he could not have his hair cut because of this, although he did not elaborate on exactly why - but Labour MP Stephen Doughty hit back at Mr Holloway for “constantly blurring the lines and definitions between refugee, migrant, economic migrant and asylum seeker.”

Mr Holloway told the chamber: "They have been though dozens of safe countries by the time they get to Calais. It’s quite possible to be a refugee and an economic migrant.

“And I think that’s one of the appalling truths of the Syrian bodies that have been washed up on the beaches. They previously got to safe countries and now they’re choosing to come to Europe…

“Likewise, we have people in this country who have come here, have claimed asylum, and then they go back on holiday in the places where they claimed asylum from.

“I couldn’t have my hair cut the other day for that reason.”

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