Asylum seekers wil lose benefits under Danish-style curbs

Tomorrow, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will unveil radical plans to end what authorities call Britain’s ‘golden ticket’ for asylum seekers by quadrupling the current five-year period for refugees to apply for permanent settlement.

It is also preparing to outline plans to cancel automatic state aid for many refugees and restrict their access to other aid.

The Home Secretary will unveil the proposals as part of wider plans based on strict Danish law to curb immigration and reduce the ‘pull factor’ that brings immigrants to the UK.

Mahmood boasted last night that he would introduce ‘the most sweeping changes to our asylum system in a generation’.

He also warned in an interview that ‘illegal immigration is tearing our country apart’.

The new 20-year eligibility period will apply to those who arrive illegally, such as in small boats or trucks, and seek asylum, or those who overstay their visas and apply later.

Home Office sources said last night that it would be Europe’s longest settlement route, even more challenging than Denmark’s eight-year route, which is Europe’s second longest.

But the plans have already sparked outrage among Labour’s Left MPs.

Last night, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch warned that Labor had ‘failed to achieve real change by overcoming its left-wing backbenchers’ and offered to work with the Government to deliver meaningful reform of the asylum system.

According to sources in the Labor Party, Ms Mahmood told colleagues she would do “the unthinkable for a Labor Home Secretary”.

And last weekend it emerged that this would involve copying parts of the strict immigration reforms that Denmark’s centre-left government introduced to combat Right-wing populism.

Reforms introduced in 2016 have led to asylum applications here falling to their lowest level in 40 years. Ms Mahmood’s officials said they would propose scrapping the legal obligation to provide asylum seekers with accommodation and support, including a weekly allowance of £49.

The assumption here is that asylum seekers who have the right to work and support themselves but choose not to do so will be denied benefits.

There are currently 8,500 people with the right to work in shelters with visas.

Last week it emerged that the plans would include denying permanent asylum to refugees. Instead, their asylum status in the UK will be reviewed every two to three years.

Denmark has reduced the number of asylum applications to the lowest level in 40 years and withdrawn 95 per cent of rejected asylum seekers, Home Office sources said last night.

They said the UK offers a package of benefits and support that far exceeds our international obligations.

Last week Labor MP Nadia Whittome described some reforms in Denmark as ‘undeniably racist’.