Tory's fury as English waived in asylum bids

NEW settlement rules have descended into confusion after a Home Office minister revealed “asylum seekers” would not need to speak English in the UK.

- BY MICHAEL KNOWLES Home Affairs Editor

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said in November that migrants must speak English to A-level standard to qualify for indefinite leave to remain.

But the Tories fear refugees will avoid the new requirements.

Shadow Communities Secretary Sir James Cleverly said: “The government could make English a condition of settlement yet they've chosen not to. Nearly a million people already cannot speak English well or at all.