Migrants' families curb 'tiny tweak'

Under fire... Home Secretary Yvette Cooper tells MPs yesterday she will tighten the rules over families of refugees

- By Martyn Brown and Michael Knowles

LABOUR'S latest plan to end the migrant crisis has been ridiculed as a “tiny tweak” that will do nothing to curb small boat crossings.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced yesterday that she was suspending refugees’ applications to bring family members to the UK.

It means those who now apply will do so under legislation used to decide all immigration applications, rather than laws specific to refugees.

But the measure was immediately blasted for being toothless.

The Government is desperately grappling to seize back the initiative on migration after record small boat arrivals this year and a growing public backlash over asylum hotels.

Ms Cooper told MPs: “Until the new framework is introduced, refugees will be covered by the same family migration rules and conditions as everyone else.”

The shakeup will restrict when refugees can bring over their families, require them to have sufficient funds before they can do so and set tougher English language requirements. It follows a five-fold rise in the number of refugee family members granted visas.

‘The figure has gone up from 4,300 in 2023 to 20,600 in the year to this March, adding to a migrant housing crisis that has stoked protests.