Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Tuesday introduced the Immigration and Asylum Bill to Parliament, enacting major changes to the asylum system that were first announced in November last year. The bill establishes a new Independent Immigration Appeals Authority (IIAA) to review asylum appeals and alters how Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights is interpreted.
What the Bill Includes
The legislation covers reforms that could not be implemented through secondary legislation or rule changes. Notably, it introduces a student loan-style repayment system for refugees: those earning above a certain threshold after their claim is accepted must pay the Home Office £10,000 towards their living costs. Additionally, the IIAA will recruit members of the public to serve in magistrate-like roles, deciding asylum cases after professional training. The Home Office assures that safeguards will ensure high standards, aiming to significantly increase decision-making capacity.
Previous Changes Already in Effect
Some asylum reforms have already been implemented. Refugee status now lasts only 30 months, a change applied to claims made from March 2. The government also gained the power to deny support to asylum seekers through a statutory instrument on March 5, which took effect on June 2.
Andy Burnham's Stance Remains Vague
Despite immigration being a top voter concern, Andy Burnham, the likely next Labour leader, has not clearly articulated his position. In a speech on Monday, he did not mention immigration. His only recorded comment came in a single line to BBC News last month: 'We’ll have to work hard to get the balance right, but the broad thrust of what she’s doing is right.' This ambiguity has led figures like Labour peer Lord Alf Dubs, a former Kindertransport refugee, and Green Party leader Zack Polanski to urge Burnham to reject the asylum reforms. Burnham is expected to deliver more speeches before his planned move to No 10 on July 20.
