HELENSBURGH'S MP has urged the BBC and other news media to be more careful with their use of language over their coverage of the English Channel drowning tragedy.

Home secretary Priti Patel said she would join SNP MP Brendan O’Hara in asking the BBC and other media to reflect on their approaches after the term "migrant" was used to describe the people who drowned in the Channel on Wednesday.

Brendan O'Hara called the loss of life an “unspeakable tragedy”.

He said: “Last night I tuned in to the BBC 10 o’clock news to get the latest on this terrible disaster, and I was absolutely appalled when a presenter informed me that around 30 migrants had drowned.

"Migrants don’t drown. People drown. Men, women and children drown.

“So will the Secretary of State join me in asking the BBC News editorial team, and any other news outlet thinking of using that term, to reflect on their use of such dehumanising language and afford these poor people the respect that they deserve?”

Priti Patel said: “Even during the Afghan operations and Op Pitting I heard a lot of language that quite frankly seemed to be inappropriate around people who were fleeing.

“So yes, I will.”