LABOUR CHIEF SAYS SYSTEM BROKEN Sarwar hails 'brave' asylum shake-up

ANAS Sarwar has defended his party's asylum crackdown as "brave".

- BY PAUL HUTCHEON

The Scottish Labour leader said Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood needed to fix the “broken” system and maintain “community relations”.

Her controversial immigration plans include making refugee status temporary and people being returned to their home countries when they are deemed safe.

She also wants to rethink human rights law and end guaranteed housing and weekly pay for some asylum seekers.

Mahmood is also proposing some migrants in the UK legally could have to wait up to 20 years before they can settle permanently.

A 15-year wait could be required if they claim benefits.

The Cabinet minister has been accused of trying to appease Reform UK, but Sarwar backed her plans on BBC Scotland.

He said: “It's important to state right from the start that Scotland has always been an open, welcoming and tolerant country.