‘A consequence of mass illegal immigration’: Shadow Home Secretary speaks out on the murder of Walsall hotel worker Rhiannon Whyte
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has blamed mass illegal immigration for the murder of 27 year-old Rhiannon Whyte at Bescot Stadium Train Station in Walsall
The murder of Rhiannon Whyte by an asylum seeker shows “the consequence of mass illegal immigration”, shadow home secretary Chris Philp said.
Deng Chol Majek is believed to have entered the UK by small boat less than three months before attacking hotel worker Rhiannon Whyte at Bescot Stadium railway station in Walsall in October 2024.
Majek had been living at the Park Inn Hotel and is said to have tracked Ms Whyte to the station after she finished her shift.
He is said to have lied to the court about his age, claiming to be 19 despite a date of birth making him 27 being recorded by authorities during a failed asylum claim in Germany.
Majek maintained he was aged 18 when he entered the UK in July 2024.
He was jailed for at least 29 years at Coventry Crown Court.
Mr Philp claimed Majek would have been sent to Rwanda under the Tories’ scheme, which was scrapped following Labour’s July 2024 election victory.
He said: “Illegal small boat immigrant Deng Majek from Sudan murdered Rhiannon Whyte by viciously stabbing her 23 times with a screwdriver.
“She bravely tried to fight him off, sadly without success.
“While it is right he will serve a minimum of 29 years, this despicable man should never have been here to start with.
“Crimes like this are the consequence of mass illegal immigration.
“Given the timing of his illegal entry by small boat, he would have been eligible for deportation to Rwanda.
“If Labour had allowed the Rwanda scheme to start as planned, this man could have been rapidly deported instead of being put up in an asylum hotel.
“This murder could have been averted, and Labour must now explain why they think this man should have been in the UK, not Rwanda.”
He added it was now “clearer than ever” the UK should leave the European Convention on Human Rights, which has been blamed for making it harder to deport people.
Labour has argued that the Rwanda scheme was a gimmick which cost £700 million but succeeded in sending just four volunteers to the African nation.
