'Arrivals still getting it too easy'

LABOUR has been warned its new asylum appeals overhaul will “not fix the problem” of the small boats.

- By Katie Harris

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has promised a new fast-track process in a bid to reduce the backlog. It was “completely unacceptable” delays on appeals left failed asylum seekers in the system for years, she said.

But Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: “These tweaks go nowhere near far enough. Simply waving illegal immigrants through even faster to full housing and welfare rights will not fix the problem.”

He urged the repeal of the Human Rights Act for immigration matters and the deportation of illegal immigrants on arrival.

Ms Cooper said: “We inherited an asylum system in complete chaos with a soaring backlog of asylum cases and a broken appeals system with thousands of people in the system for years on end.

“There are about 51,000 asylum appeals waiting to be heard, taking on average more than a year.”

FROM PAGE ONE

“rampant black market” economy. The man, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, added that it was wrong to blame Britain’s fractured communities on migrants.

He said: “I know that the UK is not experiencing a good situation politically and financially.

“But the media are putting the spotlight on the immigrants and making them appear like they are the main problem of the UK but I don’t think they are.

“If the Government and police wanted to stop this flow of immigrants, they can do it.

“I don’t believe the UK lacks the means to stop this type of thing from happening.

“But the UK needs this flow of immigrants, they need this kind of labour force.”

The people smuggler shamelessly admitted earning around £400,000 from putting hundreds of people on dinghies to make the perilous Channel crossing to our shores.

Yet he dismissed protests against hotels housing asylum seekers, saying: “It is a bit laughable.