Asylum plans will 'hurt our communities' says Jenrick

SHABANA Mahmood's “reckless” plans to create safe and legal routes for asylum seekers will heap pressure on Britain's struggling communities, critics have declared.

- BY MICHAEL KNOWLES

The Home Secretary has unveiled new outlines, with caps on the numbers of students and skilled refugees allowed to come to the UK.

But Robert Jenrick, the former immigration minister, warned there is not enough social housing to take in thousands of asylum seekers when “there are already thousands of illegal migrants in asylum hotels”.

Shadow Justice Secretary Mr Jenrick said: “We need bold action but Shabana Mahmood will only tweak and tinker around the edges, while leaving our broken model of asylum in place.

“And, even worse, the Home Secretary's announcement yesterday of more ‘safe and legal’ routes will only worsen the pressures on communities.