Asylum seeker support to be revoked in sweeping immigration crackdown

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will unveil a series of reforms to the asylum system aimed at making Britain less attractive to migrants, and ensuring it’s easier to deport people

Financial support for asylum seekers is set to be stripped back under the biggest immigration crackdown in modern times.

Based on the approach taken in Denmark, the Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is set to unveil a series of reforms to the asylum system aimed at making Britain less attractive to migrants, and ensure it’s easier to remove them from the UK.

The Home Office says the changes mean the UK is no longer an international outlier in its approach, but the Refugee Council say the measures will mean more migrants are forced to sleep rough on the streets.

READ MORE: UK looks to Denmark for stricter immigration systemREAD MORE: Tories and Reform ‘playing politics’ on migration, Labour say

Under the reforms, Ms Mahmood is set to revoke the legal duty to provide asylum seeker support, introduced in 2005 via EU law.

This means housing and weekly allowances will no longer be guaranteed, while those who have a right to work in the UK and can support themselves, but do not, now also face being denied housing and benefits because of the change. Law-breaking asylum seekers could also have such support removed.

In a Commons statement on Monday, the Home Secretary is also set to announce that refugee status will become temporary and subject to regular review under the planned changes. Refugees will be removed as soon as their home countries are deemed safe.

Under current rules, those granted refugee status have it for five years and can then apply for indefinite leave to remain and get on a route to citizenship.

Other changes expected to be announced include requiring judges to prioritise public safety over migrants’ rights to a family life, or the risk that they will face “inhuman” treatment if returned to their home country.

The Home Secretary said: “This country has a proud tradition of welcoming those fleeing danger, but our generosity is drawing illegal migrants across the channel. The pace and scale of migration is placing immense pressure on communities.

“This week, I will set out the most sweeping changes to our asylum system in a generation. We will restore order and control to our borders.”

Ministers have learned lessons from the strict asylum approach taken by Denmark, where an administration seen as progressive has managed to remove incentives drawing people to the country, and has increased deportations of illegal migrants.

Senior Home Office officials were dispatched to Copenhagen, the Danish capital, to learn about the country’s asylum policy earlier this year.

Enver Solomon, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, said: “These harsh and unnecessary plans won’t deter people who have been persecuted, tortured or seen family members killed in brutal wars.

“Under the current rules, people are not allowed to work while they wait for an asylum decision, and once they receive refugee status, most people are given less than 30 days to find a home. It is already a very tough system to navigate, and making it more punitive will not be a deterrent.”