Shabana Mahmood has defended the government's asylum reforms, describing the system as "out of control and unfair" as the proposals triggered a backlash within Labour. The home secretary told MPs the changes, described as the biggest shake-up of asylum laws in 40 years, were needed to bring the system under control and prevent more hatred.
The reforms include making it easier to remove refugees to their home country if deemed safe, extending from five to 20 years the period before people who arrive illegally can apply for permanent settlement, and consulting on removing financial support for refused asylum-seeking families with children under 18.
The plans have prompted fears of a significant Labour rebellion. Green MP Carla Denyer accused the home secretary of "attempting to out-Reform", adding: "Reform is actually just boosting this baseless far-right narrative and will only deepen divisions." Reform UK's Danny Kruger said he welcomed and recognised the home secretary's rhetoric, suggesting Labour now sounded like Reform.
The Irish justice minister, Jim O'Callaghan, said the UK changes could affect migration flows to Ireland, noting that more than 80% of people using irregular routes to Ireland originate from Great Britain. He said he would monitor the proposals closely to ensure Ireland is not viewed more favourably than the UK by asylum seekers.
Jeremy Corbyn criticised the "draconian measures", noting that 6,000 of those crossing the Channel this year came from Afghanistan, "a war-torn country that we helped make into a war-torn country". Mahmood replied that she was "mystified", pointing to bespoke resettlement schemes for Afghanistan and saying the policy was about securing safe and legal routes.
