Diane Abbott, the suspended Labour veteran MP, launched a fierce attack on Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's asylum proposals during a tense Commons debate on the Immigration and Asylum Bill. Abbott called on Mahmood to reconsider the legislation, arguing it would harm vulnerable people and fail to deliver fairness.
Key Proposals in the Immigration and Asylum Bill
The bill includes a new tribunal system where decisions are made by members of the public instead of judges, a means-tested charge of around £10,000 for successful asylum seekers, narrowed grounds for appeal on family life rights, and penalties for last-ditch modern slavery appeals. Mahmood argued these measures are essential to protect the asylum system for future generations.
Abbott's Critique
Abbott noted that the Home Office website records over 150 pieces of primary legislation or policy changes on immigration since 1988. She stated: "Each one was accompanied by the same round assertions that the Home Secretary has said this afternoon that they would bring fairness to our immigration system, fairness to our asylum system. They did not. They simply took away rights and treated people badly." She added: "Many of my relatives were asylum seekers. We need to be talking about the contribution that immigrants and asylum seekers have made to this country, not talking about them as if they are some kind of burden."
Mahmood's Defence
Mahmood countered that without action, the asylum system would be in peril. She said: "My goal as Home Secretary is to rebuild the public's confidence and thereby ensure we can continue providing protection to those in need today and for generations to come. To do so, I believe we must restore fairness to our asylum system, fairness both to those who are fleeing war and persecution, and also fairness towards those communities already here who bear the burden of supporting them." She promised to introduce more safe routes, a long-standing demand from campaigners.
Backbench Concerns
Bradford East MP Imran Hussain raised concerns about family reunification, citing the example of Rohingya refugees who settled in Bradford over a decade ago and later reunited with families. Mahmood responded: "There is nothing fair about a system that is based upon uncontrolled, unsafe and illegal routes into this country. The only people who it serves are the people smugglers. Instead, a fair asylum system must be grounded in controlled, safe and legal asylum." She announced new capped safe and legal routes for refugees, sponsored by communities, universities, and businesses, which she said promote integration and reduce taxpayer burden.
Prime Minister-in-Waiting's Support
Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister-in-waiting, expressed support for the bill. His spokesperson said: "Andy believes the public deserve an asylum system that is both compassionate and credible. This bill takes important steps towards restoring confidence by tackling illegal crossings while strengthening safe and legal routes for genuine refugees." This comes after 80 Labour MPs wrote to Burnham urging him to reverse Mahmood's plan to double the standard wait for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) for people already in the country. A decision on that plan is expected in the autumn.
