𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Illegal migrants being given free taxis to health appointments are being treated as “special cases” by the government. Express columnist Carole Malone said the system makes taxpayers’ “blood boil” as they have to make their own way to hospital while funding transport for asylum seekers. One migrant took a 250-mile journey to visit a GP at a cost to the Home Office of £600.

Malone told the Daily Expresso news show: “This is what makes people’s blood boil because sick people can’t get free taxis on the government to get to a hospital to see a doctor.”

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered an urgent review into taxi use for asylum seekers.

It follows a BBC investigation that found migrants show proof of their appointment at the reception desk of their hotel and a taxi is then booked on an automated system.

They are not offered public transport or walking options.

Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook told the Today programme that asylum seekers are not “ordinary citizens just jumping on a bus”.

Malone said his comments were “very telling” and showed there is a “two tier” system in operation.

She said: “But we have our housing minister, Matthew Pennycook, he says – this is very telling – ‘these are not ordinary citizens just jumping on a bus’.

“So what he is basically saying is migrants are special cases and should get special treatment more than the ordinary people who are actually paying for the taxis for these people.”