Asylum seekers in Britain could have to repay the state around £10,000 for accommodation and basic living support before becoming eligible to apply for settlement. The UK government announced this on Monday in its latest effort to deter illegal migration, with Interior Minister Shabana Mahmood stating that receiving asylum support is a right but also a responsibility.
Mahmood said once people can contribute and repay the generosity of the British people, the government expects them to do so, with the proposed rules only applying to adults who can afford to pay and safeguards in place to prevent them from being pushed into destitution. The rules would not be applied retrospectively, and children would be exempt.
The UK interior ministry estimates that accommodating asylum seekers costs an average of £23.25 per person per night in temporary housing and £144 in hotels, plus a weekly subsistence payment, with the total annual cost estimated at about £4 billion last year. The latest measures come at a politically sensitive moment for the Labour Party, which has faced internal divisions over how far to tighten immigration policy, as well as broader uncertainty following Keir Starmer’s announcement that he will step down as prime minister.
The proposed repayment requirement is part of a broader effort to reduce the burden on taxpayers and deter individuals from claiming asylum in the UK. The government has defended the proposal, stating that it balances compassion with fiscal responsibility.
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