CRACKDOWN ON £40M MIGRANT LAWYERS

Government calls time on ‘ludicrous’ asylum challenges

- Jonathan Walker and David Williamson

ACTIVIST lawyers suspected of “stringing out” asylum claims to pocket millions of pounds of taxpayers’ cash are facing a Government crackdown. 

Ministers believe some have turned the migrant crisis into a “gravy train”, cooking up ludicrous reasons for their clients to stay in the UK and maximising their own earnings. Several firms are being monitored for creating work for themselves by helping illegal immigrants avoid deportation. Anyone deliberately undermining the system will be red-flagged and referred to regulators who can impose fines. In the most serious cases they can be struck off and no longer practise law.

Almost £40 million was paid out in legal aid for immigration cases last year, which is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of the cost to taxpayers.

Appeals drive up the costs for government lawyers – and deportation delays mean claimants have to be housed and fed.

And one legal professional admitted huge profits were made from asylum cases, saying: “It’s a licence to print money.”

Home Office figures show 9,483 migrants are living in hotels or similar accommodation, adding to the £1.5 billion annual asylum system bill.

Last night, a Government source said: “The abuse of the system is widespread and systematic.

“These lawyers know what they’re doing – it’s a gravy train and the aim of the game is to string it out as long as possible and put in the least amount of work so they can maximise the money they take from the taxpayer.”