A POPULAR ice cream brand has shut down the home secretary over her opinions and proposed policies on immigration. 

Earlier this week, Priti Patel threatened French officials with an ultimatum: stop migrants crossing the English Channel or see funds withdrawn.

Patel, whose parents emigrated to the UK in the 1960s, wants to see Royal Navy vessels and Border Force patrol boats act as a blockade between France and the UK.

The deployment of nets which can entangle boat propellers has also been proposed, while French patrol boats will be ordered to return small ships.

News Shopper: Priti Patel Priti Patel

Ice cream manufacturer, Ben and Jerry's, however, appears to disagree with Patel's plans.

In a series of tweets about immigration, published on the company's UK Twitter account, Ben and Jerry's slammed Patel for showing a "lack of humanity". 

"Hey Priti Patel we think the real crisis is our lack of humanity for people fleeing war, climate change and torture," it read.

"People wouldn't make dangerous journeys if they had any other choice."

It added: "Stronger' borders aren't the answer and only puts more lives at risk.

"Let's remember we're all human and have the same rights to life regardless of the country we happen to have been born in."

The Twitter thread then went on to share several articles on immigration and reiterate how "people cannot be illegal". 

But a Home Office source soon hit back, defending Ms Patel's handling of the crisis, adding if that meant upsetting the social media team "for a brand of overpriced junk food then so be it".

Ms Patel has been leading the government's response to the increase in numbers of migrants making the hazardous voyage during the calmer summer conditions at sea.

Criminal gangs demand thousands of pounds for passage on overcrowded small boats that often barely have enough fuel to reach UK waters.

More than 4,000 people have made it across the world's busiest shipping lane so far this year, with at least 597 arriving between Thursday and Sunday.

The government has promised a "new, comprehensive action plan" to deal with the issue after holding talks with French officials.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also come under fire after calling migrant boat crossings a "very bad and stupid and dangerous and criminal thing to do".