David Blunkett was yesterday forced onto the defensive after arguing that the children of aslylum seekers would be taught within detention centres to prevent them "swamping" nearby schools.

His comments sparked fury amongst Labour MPs and groups representing asylum seekers, but receive a more mixed reception in today's press.

Labour MP Diane Abbot demanded that the home secretary apologise for his words. "We are talking about children here, not raw sewage," she said.

Downing Street refused to back his use of the word but the home secretary later refused calls to withdraw his remarks.

The home secretary also provoked anger when he said that asylum-seekers who commit crimes such as muggings should not be able to claim British citizenship.

The comments came on the day of the second reading of the government's controversial asylum bill.