UK may suspend visas over rejected asylum seekers

Countries that refuse to take back rejected asylum seekers from the UK could face visa suspensions, Shabana Mahmood said yesterday, as she promised to move "further and faster" as home secretary.

- Rajeev Syal

Confirming that she hopes to take a harder line than her predecessor, Yvette Cooper, she said she would do "whatever it takes" to cut the number of people entering the UK by irregular routes, such as small boats.

In her first announcement as home secretary, Mahmood proposed to cut the number of visas granted to countries that delay or refuse the return of their citizens who have no right to remain in the UK.

It was one of several proposals discussed with Britain's closest allies at a meeting of the Five Eyes security partnership, which is made up of the UK, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Mahmood said: "For us, that means including possibly the cutting of visas in the future. We do expect countries to play ball, play by the rules, and if one of your citizens has no right to be in our country, you do need to take them back."

Countries where returns of refused asylum seekers are low and demand for UK visas is high include India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal. In June, Sir Keir Starmer said he wanted to take a more "transactional" approach to the UK's use of visas.