Sir Elton John has hit out at the home secretary after her controversial speech on refugees and multiculturalism.

Suella Braverman said that the current asylum system is no longer fit for purpose, multiculturalism had “failed”, and being gay or a woman fearing persecution should not be enough to gain asylum.

The speech given in Washington – which was reportedly signed off by Number 10 – led to the former Watford FC owner releasing a critical statement through the Elton John Aids Foundation.

Watford Observer: Sir Elton John has criticised Home Secretary Suella Braverman over her suggestion that it is unsustainable for the UK to offer asylum to gay people who face discrimination in their home countries.Sir Elton John has criticised Home Secretary Suella Braverman over her suggestion that it is unsustainable for the UK to offer asylum to gay people who face discrimination in their home countries. (Image: PA Media)

He and his husband David Furnish said: “We are very concerned about the UK home secretary's comments stating how discrimination for being gay or a woman should not be reason enough to qualify for protection under international refugee laws.

"Nearly a third of all nations class LGBTQ+ people as criminals and homosexuality is still punishable by death in 11 countries.

"Dismissing the very real danger LGBTQ+ communities face risks further legitimising hate and violence against them.

"Leaders need to provide more compassion, support and acceptance for those seeking a safer future."

Watford Observer: Home Secretary Suella Braverman delivers a keynote address at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington.Home Secretary Suella Braverman delivers a keynote address at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington. (Image: PA Media)

The home secretary had said that where people are being persecuted it is right to offer sanctuary, but “we will not be able to sustain an asylum system if, in effect, simply being gay, or a woman, or fearful of persecution in your country of origin, is sufficient to qualify for protection”.

During the speech, she also said multiculturalism “has failed because it allowed people to come to our society and live parallel lives in it”, while also calling for reform of the 1951 UN Human Rights Convention, which underpins the asylum system.

Watford’s Conservative MP Dean Russell was asked by theWatford Observer whether he agreed that multiculturalism had “failed”, and that the current asylum system is not fit for purpose. He did not respond.

The United Nations’ refugee agency, UNHCR, said there was no need for reform or more restrictions, rather a “stronger and more consistent application of the convention and its underlying principle of responsibility sharing”.

Ms Braverman later rejected that she lacked compassion, adding the UK, US and other western nations are facing “unprecedented levels of illegal migration”.

“It’s right that we ask for greater collaboration at the international level amongst like-minded partners and, ultimately, the UK cannot sustain such levels of illegal migration or, indeed, legal migration,” she added.