LONDON -- Home Secretary Theresa May's speech on immigration, in which she outlined big asylum policy changes, at the Conservative Party conference provoked an outcry online from all ends of the political spectrum.
In her speech Tuesday, May said high levels of immigration make it "impossible to build a cohesive society." She attacked current asylum policies, saying many people who try to come to Britain aren't truly in need of asylum, and that a new policy would come out next year.
"So we’ll introduce strengthened ‘safe return reviews’ – so when a refugee’s temporary stay of protection in the UK comes to an end, or if there is a clear improvement in the conditions of their own country, we will review their need for protection," she said.
May also said that evidence showed that "at best the net economic and fiscal effect of high immigration is close to zero."
"Theresa May" shot up to the top of Twitter trends list in the UK as all sorts of commentators piled on.
The usually Conservative-leaning Telegraph posted an analysis headlined, "Theresa May's immigration speech is dangerous and factually wrong." It accuses her of fanning right-wing political flames to elevate her own bid for party leadership. May has been widely tipped as a top candidate to potentially take over the party from David Cameron, who has said he won't seek a third term.
U.S.-based conservative website Breitbart said she lifted lines from her speech from an interview they conducted with UKIP leader Nigel Farage.
UKIP used the speech to try to make its own points.
Conservative message on controlled immigration is almost laughable. PM and Theresa May have both echoed UKIP almost verbatim this morning— UKIP (@UKIP) October 6, 2015
Meanwhile, there was plenty more criticism to go around.
Theresa May, you have just talked yourself out a Sinha family curry.— Paul Sinha (@paulsinha) October 6, 2015
That was Theresa May's 'Rivers of Blood' speech - divisive, misleading & crude. Migrants make UK great - contributed £20bn over last decade— Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) October 6, 2015
Am I missing something or is Theresa May complaining about government policy and performance over the past five years?— tom bradby (@tombradby) October 6, 2015
Worrying speech from May: says she wants to reduce number of asylum claims made in Britain. Numbers already proportionately below EU average— Refugee Council (@refugeecouncil) October 6, 2015