MP labels government's migrant plans as 'inhumane'

Ellie Chowns accused the government of leaning into the "narrative" that all the country's problems were caused by migration

The government's plans to fast-track the deportation of illegal migrants and a major overhaul of human rights law have been described as "inhumane".

Green Party MP for North Herefordshire Ellie Chowns said she was "really worried" about Monday's announcement.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood detailed sweeping reforms of the UK's immigration policy, meaning anyone granted asylum will be returned home if their country is deemed safe in the future.

Addressing the House of Commons, the minister said she had a "moral duty" to fix the "broken asylum system" and "unite what is today a divided country".

Chowns responded: "The right to seek asylum for someone fleeing violence in their home country... is a basic principle of international law and it's also a basic principle of our shared humanity.

"And it appears what the government is trying to do is really lean into this whole narrative that all of the problems in the country are to do with people coming over in small boats.

"It's completely false and it's deeply, deeply concerning."

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood the current migration system was "out of control"

Under the government's plans, a refugee would have to have been resident in the UK for 20 years, up from the current five years, in order to apply for permanent residence or indefinite leave to remain.

Housing and weekly allowances - either £9.95 a week for those whose food is provided or £49.18 a week for those in self-catered accommodation - will also no longer be guaranteed for asylum seekers.

There are also plans to overhaul how human rights legislation, including Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) which covers the right to family life, is applied.

It would mean only those with immediate family in the UK, such as a parent or child, would be able to use Article 8 as grounds to stay.

And the UK will also join other countries in reforming Article 3 of the ECHR, which is designed to give people protection against inhuman or degrading treatment.

Ahead of Mahmood's statement to MPs, the prime minister's official spokesman denied that the government was "chasing hard-right voters".

Asked whether the government was "talking the language of Reform", he added: "No, we are talking the language of dealing with an asylum system that is in chaos."