Robert Jenrick seeks to appease angry Tories after row over Mickey Mouse mural at asylum centre

Robert Jenrick has suggested he is open to updating the guidance for the detention of asylum-seeking children following demands from senior Conservatives.

Tory former children’s ministers Vicky Ford and Tim Loughton both called for lone children to be held to the same standards as those in children’s homes, including access to social workers, advocacy, tailored care and inspections by Ofsted rather than the prisons inspector.

Mr Jenrick, the Immigration Minister, agreed the guidance “could benefit from updating” and said their suggestions would be “noted by officials” as they put into operation the controversial Illegal Migration Bill, which would make all adult asylum seekers who cross the Channel in small boats eligible for detention deportation.

It comes after a major row over asylum accommodation for children after i revealed Mr Jenrick ordered the painting over murals of cartoon characters including Mickey Mouse because he deemed them too welcoming.

Despite the apparent concession in the latest round of parliamentary ping-pong on the Bill between the Commons and Lords, Mr Loughton said the Government had not gone far enough in reassuring Tory MPs concerned about what the legislation would mean for the detention of children.

Mr Loughton warned that an eight-day time limit on detention would only apply to some asylum-seeking children, with others subject to being held for 28 days or indefinitely.

He signalled he would once again rebel to back amendments to the Bill which would limit the detention to 72 hours and children with families to 96 hours, or a week with ministerial authorisation.

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The Commons Home Affairs Committee member also rejected suggestions he and colleagues were trying to undermine the Bill, telling MPs: “Having greater safeguards on how we look after children who’ve arrived here don’t undermine the Bill, they strengthen it.”

Mr Loughton also signalled he would join ex-Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith and former prime minister Theresa May in another potential rebellion over the Bill’s watering down of protections for human trafficking victims.

Sir Iain dismissed verbal concessions on the issue from Mr Jenrick, insisting his commitments to ensure protection for certain victims should be inserted into the bill in the form of a Lords amendment.

“The Government hasn’t issued the guidance in detail and so this is why it (the amendment) is here,” the Chingford MP said.

Mr Jenrick made clear the Government would reject all amendments made in the Lords in this latest round of parliamentary ping-pong, including calls from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby for a 10-year strategy to tackle the migration crisis, including safe and legal routes.

The Immigration Minister said: “We will always work with our international partners and bring forward proposals for additional safe and legal routes where necessary.

“This amendment, however well-intentioned, remains unnecessary and, as I have said to his grace, if the Church wishes to play a further role in resettlement, then it could join our community sponsorship scheme, which is an ongoing and global safe and legal route, which as far as I’m aware, the Church of England is not currently engaged with.”