Labour's Jess Phillips has launched a scathing attack on the government, accusing ministers of 'shameful incompetence' and knowingly leaving asylum seekers destitute on Britain's streets.
The Birmingham Yardley MP revealed in a powerful Commons speech that the Home Office has been systematically evicting asylum seekers from accommodation despite being fully aware it would lead to widespread homelessness.
'They Knew Exactly What Would Happen'
Phillips presented damning evidence showing government ministers were warned repeatedly about the catastrophic consequences of their eviction policy. 'They knew exactly what would happen,' she stated, her voice echoing across the chamber.
The MP disclosed that Immigration Minister Chris Philp had been briefed on the inevitable outcome: thousands of vulnerable people would be forced into homelessness once their asylum claims were processed.
Winter Crisis Looms as Promises Broken
Despite government assurances that evictions would pause during winter, Phillips revealed the practice has continued unabated. 'The government said they wouldn't make people homeless in winter - that was a lie,' she declared.
Phillips shared heartbreaking cases from her constituency, including a man evicted with just minutes notice and another forced to sleep rough for weeks despite having official documentation.
Home Office 'Passing the Buck'
The MP accused the Home Office of deliberately creating a system where responsibility for asylum seekers is shuffled between departments and local authorities. 'They're playing bureaucratic football with human lives,' Phillips asserted.
She highlighted how eviction notices are often issued with impossible deadlines, leaving charities and local councils scrambling to prevent humanitarian crises.
Call for Immediate Action
Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper backed Phillips' revelations, demanding urgent government action. 'This isn't just incompetence - it's a conscious choice to create misery,' Cooper stated.
The Labour frontbencher called for immediate suspension of evictions and a full review of the policy, accusing ministers of 'governing by press release rather than proper process.'
As Britain faces freezing temperatures, the situation threatens to become a full-blown humanitarian crisis, with charities warning of preventable deaths on the streets if the policy continues.
