Labour backbenchers accuse government of ‘chasing Reform’ with new measures
A number of Labour MPs, who do not do far as we know include West Dunbartonshire MP Douglas McAllister, have expressed their opposition to the planned reforms, which will see the government overhaul human rights laws in a bid to ramp up deportations.
Speaking during Home Office questions in the Commons, Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome called the plans “dystopian”.“It’s shameful that a Labour Government is ripping up the rights and protections of people who have endured unimaginable trauma,” she said.
Other backbenchers have also voiced concerns, with one saying the government’s policy was a “visionless shambles” and another warning “performative cruelty” would undermine efforts to solve problems in the immigration system.
Mahmood has outlined a raft of radical measures, including how the government will attempt to change the way the European Convention on Human Rights is interpreted by UK judges in a bid to stop asylum seekers using their rights to a family life to avoid deportation.
She is set to rewrite how Britain grants refuge to those fleeing conflict and upheaval with a statement in the Commons on Monday afternoon.
Shabana Mahmood goes much further with attack on family life than expected
Independent political editor of The Independent newspaper David Maddox reports:
Documents just published by the Home Office have revealed that the home secretary Shabana Mahmood has gone much further in watering down the right to a family life than expected.
It was well known that Ms Mahmood wanted to water down the human rights convention Article 8 right to a family life but her policy paper reveals that she intends to significantly reduce rights in this area.
This includes ending the right to reunited with family. This measure was used by Labour peer Lord Alf Dubs in ensuring children seeking asylum could be reunited with their families.
The paper notes that pathways for unaccompanied children, families with children, and other vulnerable asylum seekers will be reviewed. They also plan to end indefinite support for families who do not cooperate with returns.
Other measures including reducing the initial leave to remain from five years to 30 months only to be renewed if protection is still needed.
Ms Mahmood also wants to end the duty by the government to provide support for destitute asylum seekers. Added to that anyone who came to the UK on a visa and went home for a period will lose the right to claim asylum.
Watch: Home secretary Shabana Mahmood defends ‘dystopian’ asylum plans
Tommy Robinson backs Shabana Mahmood’s asylum reforms
Tommy Robinson has welcomed the government’s sweeping reforms to the asylum system, sparking concern from Labour backbenchers.
Shabana Mahmood is set to rewrite how Britain grants refuge to those fleeing conflict and upheaval with a statement in the House of Commons on Monday – an overhaul she insisted is needed because the “pace and scale of change destabilised communities”.
The Home Office has billed the reforms, inspired by a strict approach taken by Denmark, as being the “biggest changes to the asylum system in modern times”.
Welcoming the proposals, the far-right activist posted to social media: “The Overton window has been obliterated, well done patriots.”
The Overton window refers to the spectrum of ideas on public policy and social issues considered acceptable by the general public at a given time.
Read the full article here:
Tommy Robinson backs Shabana Mahmood’s asylum reformsJeremy Corbyn says plans to seize jewellery from refugees ‘absolutely disgusting’
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has criticised plans to confiscate jewellery and valuables belonging to refugees in order to pay for accommodation and other costs as part of sweeping reforms to the asylum system.
He said: “Labour won’t redistribute wealth from billionaires. But they will seize belongings from those fleeing war and persecution.
“Absolutely disgusting. Asylum seekers are human beings — and they deserve to live in dignity just like anybody else.”
Mahmood defends ‘dystopian’ asylum plans
The Home Secretary has defended the Government’s asylum reform plans after a Labour MP branded them “dystopian”.
Speaking during Home Office questions in the Commons on Monday, Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome said: “The Denmark-style policies briefed in the last couple of days are dystopian.
“It’s shameful that a Labour Government is ripping up the rights and protections of people who have endured unimaginable trauma. Is this how we’d want to be treated if we were fleeing for our lives? Of course, not.
“How can we be adopting such obviously cruel policies? Is the Home Secretary proud that the Government has sunk such that it is now being praised by Tommy Robinson?”
Shabana Mahmood, the Home Secretary, insisted her plans could unite “a divided country” and fix the asylum system.
She said: “I’m disappointed at the nature of the question from my friend. I hope she will look at the detail of the reforms, and what I’ve said already on these matters is that we have a problem, that it is our moral duty to fix, our asylum system is broken. The breaking of that asylum system is causing huge division across our whole country.”
Why the ECHR and its tone-deaf Strasbourg court need reining in
As Shabana Mahmood announces a new migration crackdown, it is time to look again at the UK’s relationship with the ECHR, writes former home secretary Jack Straw.
The Strasbourg court is guilty of overreach – and the UK must reassert its domestic authority:
Badenoch offers Starmer Tory backing for migrants crackdown
Kemi Badenoch has offered Conservative support for the government’s asylum reforms amid opposition from Labour backbenchers.
The Tory leader told the PA news agency: “What we are seeing from the Labour government is steps in the right direction, so we want to encourage them in that right direction.
“Of course, we have a fully comprehensive borders plan. Some of what we have seen Labour announce is similar but not as much as what we have done.
“We can see that their Labour backbenchers don’t like this, so I have offered that we will support the government in going in the right direction.”
No 10 denies Labour ‘chasing’ Reform
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
The prime minister’s official spokesperson has denied the government is talking the language of Reform UK, instead arguing it is “responding to the mandate we’ve been given”.
Asked whether the government was talking the language of Reform, the Downing Street spokesperson said: “No, we are talking the language of dealing with an asylum system that is in chaos.
“We are setting out clear plans to make it less attractive for illegal migrants to come to Britain, to make it easier to remove migrants from British soil .. and make sure this country can maintain its proud tradition of offering refuge to those fleeing genuine danger.”
He added: “We are responding to the mandate we’ve been given and the public can tell that the pace and scale of illegal migration is out of control, unfair and placing huge pressure on communities.
“The prime minister wants to fix the chaos in the asylum system to move away from division and decline.”
Asylum proposals ‘common sense’, says PM after Tommy Robinson backing
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
The prime minister’s official spokesperson has refused to say whether he is happy that Tommy Robinson has welcomed the government’s sweeping asylum reforms, insisting the proposals are “common sense plans to restore control and order to our borders”.
Backing the government’s proposals, the far-right campaigner had said: “Well done patriots”.
Asked whether the prime minister was happy that Robinson welcomed the plans, his official spokesperson told reporters: “For too long Britain has lived with an asylum system that is broken… The broken system undermined trust and left genuine refugees trapped in limbo, which is not fair on anyone involved.
“This government has been fixing the mess we inherited”.
Pressed on whether Sir Keir Starmer was happy to have the backing of the far right, the official added: “As I say, the public can tell the pace and scale of illegal migration is out of control, unfair and placing huge pressure on communities. We are an open, tolerant and generous country, but we must restore order and control.
“These are comprehensive and common sense plans to restore control and order to our borders.”