𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The Labour Government is set to unveil a set of tough policy reforms in a bid to tackle high migration numbers, but some MPs are breaking ranks to blast the new approach. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will deliver an update in the Commons this afternoon, announcing significant changes to deportations and processing.

The crackdown includes attempts at changing how the ECHR is interpreted by UK judges, making them prioritise public safety over migrants’ rights to a family life. The threshold after which asylum seekers can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain will also look to be increased from five to 20 years.

Among other measures in the “sweeping reforms” is a threat to the governments of Angola, Namibia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, that citizens may be prevented from entering Britain if the countries fail to quickly improve their cooperation with removals.

The three nations are being singled out for their “unacceptably low cooperation and obstructive returns processes”, a Home Office source told the BBC.

The Government will also look to make refugee status temporary and regularly reviewed, with refugees immediately removed once ministers deem their home country safe.

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Additionally, Ms Mahmood plans to change laws guaranteeing housing and financial support for asylum seekers who would be destitute without it, making it “discretionary”.

The new approach has been compared to that of Denmark, which is known for its strict rules on migration.

But while Reform and the Tories insist the measures don’t go far enough, Labour MPs are taking aim at the move, accusing the Government of moving too far to the Right on immigration.

Tony Vaughan, who Labour MP who entered the Commons in 2024 and represents the south coast beaches of Folkestone and Hythe, a hot spot for migrant dinghies, urged the Government “think again on this” last night.

Mr Vaughan said: “The idea that recognised refugees need to be deported is wrong. The rhetoric around these reforms encourages the same culture of divisiveness that sees racism and abuse growing in our communities.

“The Government is wrong to think that reviews of safety in the person’s country every few years will mean refugees can be returned at scale. That hasn’t happened in Denmark.

“Brutal dictators tend to hang onto power. It would just move huge amounts of resources away from making our asylum system work as it should – by cutting initial decision delays and the appeals backlog, sorting out asylum accommodation, making the UK-France deal work, removing those whose claims fail, etc.”

John McDonnell, who was shadow Chancellor under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour Party warned that he suspects Mr Vaughan reflects “what many in the PLP [Parliamentary Labour Party] feel”.

The Folkestone MP’s tweet was also shared by a number of other MPs, including: Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Stella Creasy, Clive Lewis, Nadia Whittome, Kate Osborne, Olivia Blake and Peter Lamb.

This morning, borders minister Alex Norris urged Labour backbenchers to wait for the Home Secretary’s asylum announcement later today (Monday, November 17) amid the outcry.

Yesterday, Ms Mahmood ramped up her rhetoric about the migrant crisis, warning it is “tearing our country apart.”

She said that despite being the daughter of immigrants, tackling the continuing high numbers of small boat crossings is a “moral mission” for her.

The Cabinet minister said: “It is dividing communities, people can see huge pressure in their communities and they can also see a system that is broken and where people are able to flout the rules, abuse the system and get away with it.

“I am not willing to stand by and pretend there isn’t a problem, when I know there is one, and then suggest that any solution to that cannot work because I believe they can.”

Ms Mahmood also warned Labour MPs weighing up a rebellion that “dark forces are stirring up anger” over immigration, and that the Government must not fail to act.