Adam Holloway has been inundated with messages of support after a controversial speech on immigration at the House of Commons.

Gravesham’s MP said he thought the majority of the EU and Germany were “bonkers” if they gave refugees and migrants a right to settle in Europe, during a speech on Tuesday.

Speaking to KentOnline, Mr Holloway, who stepped down from his position as Parliamentary private secretary to the minister for Europe in October 2011, said he had received countless e-mails from members of the public.

He said: “I’ve had more e-mails from people supporting me on this than when I resigned from government over the referendum.

“I’ve had more e-mails than I can begin to read and mostly from decent people, not bigoted fascists.

"They are all saying ‘We’ve got to be honest about this problem’.”

In his House of Commons speech, the Gulf War veteran also surprised many when he made reference to the way some asylum seekers treat their status in this country.

He claimed that many often come and go back to the country they left.

Mr Holloway remarked that it had caused him to go without a haircut, as his asylum seeker barber had gone on holiday.

When asked about this, he said: “I’m really pleased about the haircut comment because it made people listen to what what was being said.”

Mr Holloway, who has held the Gravesham seat for three consecutive elections, said letting hoards of people settle in Europe would mean help would not be directed to the countries they were fleeing.

He said:“Basically the world needs to do a lot more and the crazy EU have created a situation where hundreds of thousands of people think that the door to a better life in Europe is now open.

“What we’re basically saying is “come to England” and it’s completely insane because the effects of it are, firstly, it will stop us from helping the genuine refugees in the world and secondly, we will take in a few people and public opinion in places like Germany will tire of it.”

Before becoming a politician, Mr Holloway was a television reporter and spent time filming in a refugee camp in Calais and working undercover in the war-torn Balkan region.

He said there was a difference between those forced to leave their countries and others who were just in search of a better life.

The MP said: “I’m not just some career politician saying this. I’ve been in camps in Calais and I’ve been in the Balkans where people are being ethnically cleansed. But the problem is we’re not going to help the genuine refugees if we keep on with this.

“We’ve got to start being honest, you have economic migrants and refugees. If I was an economic migrant I would do exactly the same.

"If the European Union was telling me the door was open, I would come to Europe too.”