Refugee ban plan 'will change little'

PLANS to bar refugees from staying in the UK permanently will “change little” and won't stop the small boats crisis, critics have warned.

- BY MICHAEL KNOWLES Home Affairs Editor

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to unveil the measure on Monday, as part of the UK Government's asylum system reforms.

She has admitted Labour's attempts to smash the people smuggling gangs so far have not gone far enough. A source said: “We have to accept the asylum system is outdated and broken.”

Ms Mahmood hopes that will change with her new proposal. Those granted protection will be sent back home “the moment” it is safe again. It ends the post-Second World War entitlement “to the permanent protection we give refugees”.

But Reform UK leader Nigel Farage scoffed at the changes, insisting they won't work while the UK remains in the European Convention on Human Rights.

He told the Daily Express: “Tough language from the Home Secretary is great but the ECHR and British judges mean that little will change. Labour won't stop the boats.”