Fair play to you for chucking this one out here.
My starting point for all politician types is one of suspicion. I read a quote from someone once which said something like "the only people allowed to be Prime Minister should be those who get dragged kicking and screaming into No.10". Wish I could remember who said it! I've got it in my head that is someone like Oscar Wilde but buggered if I know.
Anyway, it seems a very strange change of tack. A genuine change of heart or a cynical media move for some reason? Dunno maybe its about tactics and when the next murderer commits the next atrocity they can stand up and say "Well we tried to be reasonable but obviously they are just savages so kick 'em all out".
You'd hope that someone sat them down and demolished their argument getting them to see the other side and this led to the change of mind but I'm afraid I can't quite go for that.
I think this one depends on what happens next.