ASYLUM CHANGES TO BE UNVEILED

THE Home Secretary has vowed to “restore order” to the British asylum system with “sweeping changes” modelled on the approach taken by Denmark.

- DAVID LYNCH Press Association Reporter

Shabana Mahmood will lay out a series of reforms to the asylum system in the House of Commons tomorrow aimed at making Britain a less attractive destination for illegal migrants, and making it easier to remove them from the UK.

Billed as the largest overhaul of asylum policy in modern times, tightening British asylum controls will mean the UK is no longer an international outlier, according to the Home Office.

It described Britain’s current offer to asylum seekers as more generous than those of its near neighbours on the European continent, where controls are being bolstered.

Ms Mahmood is set to revoke the statutory legal duty to provide asylum-seeker support, introduced in 2005 via EU law.

This means housing and weekly allowances will no longer be guaranteed for asylum seekers, in a bid to lessen the incentive for migrants crossing the English Channel to claim refuge in the UK.

‘Those who have a right to work in the UK and can support themselves, but do not, could also be denied housing and benefits because of the change.

Lawbreaking asylum seekers could also have support removed.

The Home Secretary said: “This country has a proud tradition of welcoming those fleeing danger, but our generosity is drawing illegal migrants across the channel.