Sadiq Khan: ‘Cruel’ migration invoice might create 50,000 homeless in London
In a letter to Home Secretary Suella Braverman, the Mayor of London stated the invoice was “cruel and unworkable” and that it might go away tens of 1000’s of individuals stranded within the capital with out help.
The Government has stated the invoice “will change the law so that those who arrive in the UK illegally will not be able to stay here and will instead be detained and then promptly removed, either to their home country or a safe third country”.
But Mr Khan stated he was involved the proposed legislation modifications “would do significant damage to vulnerable people seeking sanctuary and put already-stretched services in London on crisis footing”.
The mayor warned the invoice might “end up handing power to human traffickers, undermine crucial child protections, and leave people in immigration limbo, rather than have their requests for sanctuary heard”.
Referring to scenes in Pimlico final week, Mr Khan added that individuals had just lately been seen “seeking sanctuary camped outside hotels, rather than suffer overcrowded, substandard conditions”.
The mayor informed Ms Braverman: “It is clear that the current asylum system is broken and this bill will serve only to deepen the challenge, which could result in 50,000 people over the next three years left in London, unable to access support, work or legitimate avenues to fend for themselves.”
Mr Khan’s warning follows an evaluation from the Refugee Council which estimated that tens of 1000’s of kids can be impacted if the invoice turns into a legislation, and round £9 billion can be spent nationally on detaining and accommodating individuals impacted by the invoice within the first three years of its operation.
A Home Office spokeswoman stated: “Our Illegal Migration Bill will help to stop the boats by making sure people smugglers and illegal migrants understand that coming to the UK illegally will result in detention and swift removal – only then will they be deterred from making these dangerous journeys in the first place.”
“All asylum seekers who require accommodation are offered housing, on a no choice basis, which is safe, secure, leaves no one destitute and is appropriate for an individual’s needs.”