An MP has taken the Home Secretary to task over the government’s decision to strip Shamima Begum, the Jihadi bride, of her citizenship.

Rehman Chishti, MP for Gillingham and Rainham tackled Sajid Javid over the decision during a hearing of the Home Affairs select committee, saying that while he understood why the action was taken, he could not accept it ethically.

He argued people were entitled to justice and fairness under the international rule of law and there had to be a consistency in the way the rules were applied.

He asked Mr Javid if the Home Office was more inclined to react where there was a public outrage about terrorists returning to the UK and if that led to a push for some to be stripped of their citizenship.

“Her comments are completely unacceptable, horrific and pragmatically I would not want her back but ethically, respecting the rule of law in this country you have to prosecute,” he said.

In reply, the Home Secretary denied acting arbitrarily and cases where citizenship deprivation was considered were judged on a case by case basis.

“If you are suggesting that there is some kind of power used in some cases but not in others, it is on the merits of each case...and that is the way it should be.”

The 19-year-old who went to Syria in 2015 now wants to return to the UK with her baby son.

However, the Home Secretary has formally stripped her of her citizenship but his decision is being challenged by her family in the courts.