Asylum Seekers in UK Deserve Fair Treatment, Not Destitution
MPs from Different Parties Call for Reform of Asylum System
A parliamentary report found flaws in how the UK government handles asylum applications. Members of different parties argued that current rules seem designed to impoverish seekers rather than curb arrivals.
The report cited the negatives of long wait times before allowing work or assistance. These force seekers into destitution without adequate funds or access to basic healthcare and education. This burden falls on local councils, services like hospitals and schools, and taxpayers. Yet arrival numbers remain high, indicating rules fail their purpose.
Recommendations included:
- Allowing work after 6 months versus the current 12 to attain self-sufficiency.
- Enable access to government assistance and public services to avoid exploitation.
- Reducing the fees for immigration and citizenship processes, especially for youth seeking permanence.
Labour MP Ruth Lister who co-authored the report said evidence shows policies secretly cause destitution. Labour’s Olivia Blake said the system appears intended to make life harder for vulnerable seekers. Cross-party voices like ex-Lib Dem leader Tim Farron, Conservative peer Nosheena Mobarik, and SNP’s David Linden agree reforms can balance a kinder, dignified approach with helping the UK economy and society. The findings call for a more humane system supporting both newcomers and the community.
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