UK to cut refugee benefits, extend waiting time

REFUGEES TO WAIT 20 YEARS BEFORE THEY CAN APPLY TO LIVE PERMANENTLY

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Britain will drastically reduce protections for refugees and end automatic benefits for asylum seekers, the Labour government announced late Saturday, under new plans aimed at slashing irregular immigration and countering the hard-right.

"I'll end UK's golden ticket for asylum seekers," interior minister Shabana Mahmood declared in a statement.

Presently, those given refugee status have it for five years, after which they can apply for indefinite leave to remain and eventually citizenship.

But Mahmood's ministry, known as the Home Office, said it would cut the length of refugee status to 30 months.