To use children as a weapon is shabby... I am lost for words

Labour peer who fled Nazis urges 'choose compassion'

- BY ASHLEY COWBURN Deputy Political Editor

A LABOUR peer who fled the Nazis as a child expressed his dismay at officials being told to stop being hesitant about booting out refugee children.

Lord Alf Dubs, 92, when told of the government's asylum plans, said: "To use children as a weapon as the Home Secretary is doing I think is a shabby thing. I'm lost for words frankly."

The shakeup of rules, unveiled by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood this week, has caused unease among Labour MPs.

Refugees will have their status reviewed every two-and-a-half years - meaning they could be removed if their homeland is deemed to be safe.

Ms Mahmood, right, told MPs in the Commons that it was an uncomfortable truth that the UK's generous asylum support is drawing people to the UK.