Refugee status to be temporary as Shabana Mahmood rips up rules on UK asylum

Refugee status to be temporary as Shabana Mahmood rips up rules on UK asylum Home secretary announces 30-month protection limit, with refugees required to leave if their home countries are later judged safe ‘That resentment is real’: Mahmood’s Denmark visit aims to hammer home tough line on immigration Shabana Mahmood has ripped up the government’s asylum rules so that from Monday every refugee will be told that their status is temporary and will last just 30 months. In a move that has concerned a refugee charity, the home secretary said that claimants whose countries are deemed to be safe by the UK government will from now on be expected to return. The announcement comes despite pleas from some Labour MPs, peers and affiliated unions this weekend for Keir Starmer’s government to shift towards progressive policies after the party came third in Thursday’s Gorton and Denton byelection . The changes include plans to double to 10 years the amount of time some foreign nationals must wait before they can settle in the UK. In an interview with the Guardian , Mahmood called for Labour MPs to get behind immigration reforms or risk a Nigel Farage-led government deporting refugees “to certain death”. She has insisted that far from being unpopular with traditional Labour voters, her policies recognise the concerns of people who feel resentment because “public services are under pressure”. Under Monday’s changes, adults and accompanied children claiming asylum will receive a 30-month period of protection if it is granted. At a 30-month review refugees with a continuing need of sanctuary will have their protection renewed, while those whose countries are now deemed safe will be expected to return home. The new rules will not apply retrospectively to anyone who has applied before Monday. Under the previous system refugees were granted five years of protection and allowed to bring their families, followed by possible permanent settlement. Just over 100,000 people claimed asylum in ...