Tommy Robinson backs Shabana Mahmood’s asylum reforms
Tommy Robinson has sparked concerns from Labor supporters by welcoming the government’s sweeping reforms to the asylum system.
Shabana Mahmood is set to rewrite how Britain grants asylum to those fleeing conflict and riots, with a statement in the House of Commons on Monday; He insisted that an overhaul was necessary because “the pace and scale of change is destabilizing communities”.
The Home Office declared the reforms, inspired by Denmark’s strict approach, “the biggest changes to the asylum system in modern times”.
Welcoming the proposals, the far-right activist posted on social media: “Overton’s window has been destroyed, well done patriots.”
The Overton window refers to the range of opinions on public policy and social issues deemed acceptable by the general public at a given time.
Earlier this year, Robinson led the Unite The Kingdom Rally in London, where Elon Musk criticized “uncontrolled immigration”. While 23 people were detained in the incidents, 26 police officers were injured. More than 150 anti-Muslim hate reports were made to the Tell Mama charity, which is monitoring the issue, in the seven days following the march.
On Monday, Ms Mahmood insisted her plans could unite a “divided country” and fix the asylum system after a Labor MP branded them “dystopian”.
Speaking during Home Office questions in the House of Commons on Monday, Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome said: “The Danish-style policies announced in the last few days are dystopian.
“It is disgraceful that a Labor government would usurp the rights and protections of people who have endured unimaginable trauma. Would we want to be treated like this if we were running for our lives? Of course not.”
“How can we adopt such openly draconian policies? Is the home secretary so proud that the government is now so bankrupt that he’s being praised by Tommy Robinson?”
The Home Secretary responded: “I am disappointed by the nature of the question my friend asked. I hope he will look at the details of the reforms and what I have said before on these matters is that we have a problem, it is our moral duty to fix it, our asylum system is broken.”
“The breakdown of this asylum system is causing great division throughout our country.”
The prime minister’s official spokesman, meanwhile, refused to say whether he was pleased that Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, had welcomed the reforms and insisted the proposals were “common-sense plans to restore control and order at our borders”.
Asked if the Prime Minister was happy with Robinson’s welcome of the plans, the official told reporters: “Britain has lived with a broken asylum system for too long… The broken system has undermined trust and left genuine refugees in limbo, which is not fair to anyone involved.”
“This government is fixing the mess we inherited.”
Asked if Sir Keir was happy with the support of the far right, the spokesman added: “As I said, the public may say that the pace and scale of illegal immigration is out of control, unfair and puts great pressure on communities. “We are an open, tolerant and generous country, but we must restore order and control.
“These are comprehensive and common-sense plans to restore control and order at our borders.”
It comes as concerns grow over plans from Labor supporters, with Tony Vaughan urging the government to “think again” about the proposals.
He warned that “the rhetoric around these reforms promotes the same divisive culture that has seen racism and abuse rise in our societies.”
“The idea that recognized refugees should be deported is wrong. We absolutely need immigration controls. And when those controls decide on the granting of asylum, we must welcome and integrate them, not create permanent uncertainty and alienation,” he said.
Stella Creasy, meanwhile, described the plans as “performative cruelty” that would “harm integration and the economy.”
“It doesn’t have to be this way; there is a better way, based on Labor values, that also provides control of our borders,” he wrote in the Guardian.
