Mahmood sets out plans for tougher asylum system in face of Labour resistance

HOME Secretary Shabana Mahmood claimed the UK was targeted by people “asylum shopping” around Europe as she faced the prospect of a backbench revolt to plans to toughen up the system.

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She announced sweeping changes designed to reduce the UK's attractiveness to asylum seekers and bolster the process for removing people with no right to be in the country.

The plans, set out in a UK Government statement, have already faced resistance from Labour MPs.

But Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the asylum system was not designed to cope with a “more volatile and insecure” world or a situation where asylum seekers travel through “multiple safe countries before seeking to cross the English Channel by boat”.

He said: “If we want to see fewer channel crossings, less exploitation and a fairer system with safe and legal routes, we need an approach with a stronger deterrent effect and rules that are robustly enforced.”

The Home Secretary said the UK was viewed by asylum seekers as a more attractive destination than other European nations.

She said: “While some are genuine refugees, others are economic migrants, seeking to take advantage of the asylum system. Even amongst those who are genuine refugees, economic incentives are at play. Instead of stopping at the first safe country even genuine refugees are searching for the most attractive place to seek refuge, many now ‘asylum shop’ their way across the continent, in search of the most attractive place to seek refuge.”

The plans have already sparked opposition from backbench MPs.