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NEW LAW MAY GIVE ASYLUM TO 22,500 REFUGEES

NEW LAWS: Asylum seekers at Calais watch a ferry to Britain

Wednesday April 29,2009

By Nick Fagge

Comment Speech Bubble Have your say(9)

Thousands more asylum seekers will be given the right to live, work and claim benefits in Britain.

Controversial plans will require the UK to accept one in eight of all migrants who set foot in any of the 27 European Union countries and demand refugee status.

It could mean an estimated 22,500 more people coming to Britain.

Taxpayers will be expected to foot the bill for their food, accommodation and clothing, plus legal fees while they apply for international protection.

Asylum seekers must also be given the right to work within six months of their arrival, enabling them to claim thousands of pounds in benefits if they cannot find a job. Their children must also be found school places.

Migrants can only be detained as a last resort and must not be held in secure accommodation more than 72 hours without a judge’s approval.

The proposals, supported by Labour MEPs, are part of the EU’s Common European Asylum System and will be put to the European Parliament in Strasbourg for approval.

Last night Conservative MEP Philip Bradbourn said: “Economic migrants posing as asylum seekers would have an easy ride under these plans.

“Once again, the EU thinks the only answer to justified immigration concerns is to take control of asylum policy. Controlling our borders is one of the most important roles of government.

“For more than a decade, Labour has been unable to form a coherent immigration policy, but that should not justify handing it to Brussels.”

UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage said: “Brussels will soon be dictating who has the right to live and work in Britain. The EU is pushing for a common asylum and immigration policy but it is being pushed through without proper thought.”

EU member states will be forced to take refugees or face huge fines under the proposals outlined on Monday.

Migrants will be rehoused from states “confronted with a large number of asylum applications” such as Malta, Greece, Italy and Spain’s Canary Islands to larger countries such as the UK – a reversal of the rule that requires applicants to seek sanctuary in the first safe country.

Member states would be compelled to accept a percentage of applicants in accordance with their population.

This would mean the UK taking in 13 per cent of all refugees arriving in the EU – or 22,500 of the 322,000 average arrivals over the last 10 years.

A Home Office spokeswoman said last night: “The UK operates a firm but fair asylum system that is delivering faster decisions to help those who need our protection.

“We would not agree to any proposal that limits the UK’s abilities to control our borders, which is why we have decided not to opt in to measures that propose allowing asylum seekers to work.

“If that changes, we’ll reconsider.”

AT THE ELECTIONS LET THE GOVERNMENT KNOW THE BRITISH PEOPLES TRUE FEELINGS

29.04.09, 5:42pm

We already take the unemployed of Eastern Europe at the expense of our own people. If the UK is to be saved from Europe we need to leave and get rid of this deceitful, money grabbing government. Anyone with a brain knows why migrants flock to the UK, so we must put a stop to giving benefits to asylum seekers. Also migrants working here (from Europe or anywhere else) should not be given benefits. They should not be here without a work permit, once that has expired they should return to their homeland. I believe that all these migrants coming here will work against our children in the future as these ethnic minorities will be demanding special treatment. The government needs to get the message that enough is enough. The conservatives must spell out how they propose to deal with these issues or will they also continue to fly in the face of the British people. At the European elections people must use their vote to let the politicians know their feelings of disgust at this government

• Posted by: ulsterman • Report Comment

.....WORK AND CLAIM BENEFITS?

29.04.09, 3:40pm

...er, get it right. Don't you mean claim benefits. D'oh !

• Posted by: wiggins • Report Comment

REMOVE THE TEMPTATION.

29.04.09, 1:59pm

The problem of economic migrants coming to take advantage of UK benefits will not go away until the reason they come is removed.
The UK needs new and much tougher laws regarding qualification for benefits and reform of a legal aid system which means UK taxpayers are footing the legal bill to be taken advantage of. The benifits migrants have quickly learnt they are in a 'no lose' situation once they arrive on our shores.

• Posted by: moonlighter • Report Comment

DISMISS THIS AT YOUR PERIL

29.04.09, 10:49am

Britain is the preferred destination for most asylum seekers and this EU Directive will guarantee they will be able to come here passing in most cases, 26 other EU safe havens.

The EU have once again shown the British people that we are held in contempt. It is time the voice of the majority (55% BBC) is heard and that Britain leaves the EU.

Once again Labour MEP's sell Britain out, and the Tories, talk with 'forked' tongue.

Vote UKIP on 4th June, make it 'Britains Independence Day.'

• Posted by: Bobfm • Report Comment

HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING

29.04.09, 8:55am

Have the indigenous people of this country been consulted? No, thought not just as we were not consulted if we wanted our country
swamped with people, many of whom should not be here of which we having no say again, have to support.
To hell with what the EU says we are a tiny island compared to countries in Europe let them house and support them,we have done more than our share.
Its really time we started protesting like the French do, they always get what they want,
are all these freaky rules from the EU imposed on other countries because if not it is about time they were as this country is full and sinking
under the weight of numbers already . NO MORE must be allowed in without the consent of the people

• Posted by: Maggie • Report Comment

USELESS

29.04.09, 8:35am

Strange how we can find the money to keep all these scroungers but cant give oap s a decent pension The sooner this set of idiots running the country go the better. Hopefully the ocnservatives will ge tus out of the EU and let us run our own country

• Posted by: andyoo22001 • Report Comment