Suella Braverman's decisions directly led to overcrowding and outbreaks of scabies and diptheria at an asylum seeker processing centre in the county, it's been reported.

The former Home Secretary is said to have blocked the transfer of thousands of asylum seekers detained at Manston Airport to hotels during her first six-week stint.

Braverman was even warned by Home Office officials she risked breaking the law by detaining people for more than four weeks, The Times reported just hours before a petrol bomb attack on the Tug Haven facility, where asylum seekers are brought ashore before being taken to Manston for processing.

Multiple government sources revealed Braverman only approved asylum seekers being moved from the facilities if there was space in other detention centres, accommodation provided by local councils or spare beds provided by private contractors working with the Home Office.

The goal was to cut the cost of housing asylum seekers in hotels, which costs taxpayers around £6.8 million per day, but it led to overcrowding at the Manston site.

At one point this month more than 3,000 migrants were being held there, three times its original capacity.

Conditions at the Ramsgate airport have been widely criticised, with one member of staff reports they had been sexually assaulted.

One government source said: “She was refusing to allow anyone to leave Manston, even though the numbers were well above its capacity.”

Sources even claimed Braverman ordered the use of tags, but was told one were available.

Last week three hotels were opened to accommodate the overflowing numbers at Manston, meaning more than 70 hotels are being used to help home asylum seekers temporarily.

The centre was set up at the beginning of the year to replace Dover's Kent Intake Unit and was only designed to accommodate people for up to 24 hours for security and medical checks.

Another source added: “Besides the fact that we are letting people in our care live in inhumane conditions, it’s also against the law, but she turned a blind eye.”

The Home Office has confirmed a small outbreak of diphtheria, a highly contagious infection that is rare in the UK but can prove fatal if untreated.

It insisted it was providing for the "basic needs" of people being processed, including hot food, fresh clothing, toilets, sanitary packs and medical care.

A spokesman said: “Manston is resourced and equipped to process migrants securely and we will provide alternative accommodation as soon as possible.”