SNP accuses Labour of 'pandering' to Reform as Mahmood prepares to unveil asylum shake-up
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood under fire as she unveils sweeping changes to UK immigration system
Labour has been accused of “pandering” to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as the Home Secretary prepares to unveil sweeping changes to the asylum system.
Shabana Mahmood is on Monday expected to set out a series of reforms to the UK’s immigration system, which she says will end the “golden ticket” for asylum seekers.
The reforms include forcing those who arrive illegally to wait 20 years before applying for permanent settlement.
Refugee status would be made temporary under the changes, with reviews every 30 months, and refugees would be made to go home as soon as their country of origin becomes safe.
The proposals were attacked criticised by the SNP as “dancing to Nigel Farage’s tune”.
Pete Wishart MP, the SNP’s deputy Westminster leader, said: “It is outrageous that Labour is considering kicking people out who have been in the country for up to 20 years.
“That would mean families torn apart, communities destabilised, and people denied the chance to contribute - and Labour can’t even offer reassurance to Ukrainians who have become part of every community across the country.
“A Labour government should be focused on helping people with rising costs and investing properly in public services - dancing to Nigel Farage’s tune on immigration won’t cut bills.
“It’s no wonder people feel let down by Labour - prices are soaring, wages are stagnating and households are at breaking point, but Labour’s primary focus is on fighting each other and pandering to Nigel Farage.
“The fundamental problem is not asylum seekers, refugees and immigrants - it is the mess Westminster has made of immigration policy and the massive inequality that exists in the UK.
“The Westminster system is broken in so many ways, and with the rise of Nigel Farage and his toxic agenda, things are only going to get worse.”
Asylum is reserved to Westminster, but the Scottish Government is responsible for how asylum seekers access services such as healthcare and education, as well as integration into the community.
The Scottish Government’s Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville called for “collaborative working” between Holyrood, Westminster and local authorities, warning the situation in Glasgow is already “unsustainable”.
She said: “We are aware the Home Office will be setting out proposed reforms on asylum. I am deeply concerned these changes will push more people, including families with children, into poverty, while increasing homelessness and destitution.
“The UK Government has an international duty and legal obligation to protect those fleeing violence and persecution around the world.
“The Scottish Government has long-called for collaborative working with the Home Office to ensure families do not have to experience homelessness.
“It is vital that the Home Office work constructively with Scottish local authorities and third-sector partners to ensure any plans developed recognise Scottish interests and avoid placing greater financial pressure on councils such as Glasgow, where the situation is unsustainable.
“Scotland welcomes refugees and people seeking asylum but it is vital that the Home Office provides those who are most in need of support with the proper assistance to start to rebuild their lives.”
The Home Secretary said there are dangers ahead if the government does not tackle the rising number of illegal migrants coming into the UK, which she said is “tearing our country apart”.
Ms Mahmood said one of the biggest challenges is making the UK less attractive for illegal migrants who are looking to cross the Channel on small boats.
Ms Mahmood said: “I have the misfortune of looking at the way organised immigration criminals are selling packages to asylum seekers in the north of France.
“They are putting them on dangerous boats and crossing the Channel, advertising the relative generosity of the system, advertising hotels with bed and board awaiting you when you cross the Channel.
“That’s part of what’s driving people to get on the boats in the first place.
“It is important to send a signal that we are starting to take action and building new alliances to deal with organised crime.”
She added 20,000 illegal Channel crossings have been blocked because of the ongoing work her department is undertaking to deal with what she calls the “pull factor”.
Ms Mahmood also said it is “unfair” that asylum seekers are supported by the state with “no expectation to comply with the rules”, adding this puts them in a “better position than most British citizens in social housing”.
The Home Secretary said: “It’s important to deal with illegal migration to this country because this is an issue that is dividing this country.
“I see that polarisation all over the country.
“The system is out of control, it is unfair, and it is putting huge pressure on our communities.
“It is important we restore order and control to maintain public confidence in having an asylum system - that's what my reforms are designed to do, to reduce the number of arrivals, increase removals and create new, safe, legal routes for those fleeing peril.
“The new reforms will change a generation-old assumption that sanctuary can lead to permanent settlement and the rights that go alongside that.
“We are changing it to a more temporary assessment every two-and-a-half years and if your country becomes safe you will be returned to your country.”
She added: “This is designed to bring the system back into order and under control so that we can continue to provide sanctuary to those fleeing wars all over the world through safe and legal routes.”
In the year to June, 111,000 people claimed asylum in the UK. In the year ending March, 172,798 people were granted indefinite leave to remain.
However her proposals are already threatening a Labour rebellion from those on the left of the party.
Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman has said the Home Office’s reforms to tackle illegal immigration are not “real Labour values”.
The Alloa and Grangemouth MP, who only had the whip restored at the beginning of this month, said Ms Mahmood should instead be focusing on building a society that looks after the “most endangered people in the world”.
Speaking to the BBC’s The Sunday Show, he said: “Do I think the real Labour values of building a caring, compassionate society where we look after our most vulnerable, and from an international point of view of human decency to look after people, do I think that’s in what has been leaked so far, no I don’t.”
When asked if he would once again rebel against his own government on this issue, he said: “I will need to see what is put forward by the government and judge each policy on its merits, but we are talking about the most endangered people in the world coming over in small boats or on the bottom of trucks, and we need to build a society that looks after them.”
Mr Leishman lost the Labour whip four months ago for repeatedly rebelling against the government. He had this restored on November 7.
Ms Mahmood is expected to set out her proposals for overhauling the asylum system on Monday.
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