PATEL ASYLUM OVERHAUL IS ‘SHAMELESS’
Home Secretary vows to halt ‘endless legal claims’
PRITI Patel has been branded “shameless” by human rights campaigners over new plans to overhaul the asylum system.
Amnesty International said a politically charged Tory conference speech by the Home Secretary contained “precisely the same rhetoric and intention that has for years done so much harm to so many”.
Ms Patel sought to blame problems on lawyers and Labour rather than on a decade of Tory failure.
She said: “A fair asylum system should provide safe haven to those fleeing persecution, oppression or tyranny. But ours doesn’t. Our asylum system is fundamentally broken.
“Fair and compassionate towards those who need our help.
“Fair by welcoming people through safe and legal routes.
“But firm because we will stop those who come here illegally making endless legal claims to remain.
“And firm, because we will expedite the removal of those who have no claim for protection.”
She added: “After decades of inaction by successive governments, we will address the moral, legal, practical problems with this broken system.”
Kate Allen, Amnesty UK director, said: “Priti Patel promised to deliver a cultural shift at the Home Office.
“Yet here she is delivering precisely the same rhetoric and intention that has for years done so much harm to so many women, men and children.
“While many people in the UK provide support, friendship and hope to people forced to flee tyranny, torture and war, the Home Office has long sought to deprive many such people of their right to seek and enjoy protection here.
“It is shameless and nonsensical for the Home Secretary to claim to be fixing the asylum system while making it even less effective in providing sanctuary.”
Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds said it was “more evidence of how lacking in compassion and competence the Tories are”.
Ms Patel also slammed Black Lives Matter and Extinction Rebellion.
She said: “It is not acceptable for mobs to tear down statues and cause criminal damage across our streets.
“And it is not acceptable for thugs to assault our police officers.”