Theresa May's speech
Asylum seekers who enter Britain illegally will be barred from settling permanently
Thousands of asylum seekers who enter Britain illegally will be barred from settling permanently in this country as part of a new crackdown, Theresa May has announced.
The Home Secretary said that Britain will be "tough" on those who abuse asylum rules by spurning the chance to settle in other EU countries or try to smuggle their way into Britain.
Home Secretary Theresa May addresses the Conservative Party conference, October 6, 2015Home Secretary Theresa May addresses the Conservative Party conference Photo: Eddie Mulholland/The Telegraph
She said that in future Britain will distinguish between between vulnerable people who have been resettled and those “who claim asylum after abusing the visa system or having traveled to get here through safe countries”.
She said: “If you’ve spurned the chance to seek protection elsewhere — but we cannot return you to that safe country and you still need refuge — you’ll get the minimum stay of protection and you won’t have an automatic right to settle here. But for those who really need it, we will offer a longer stay of protection. Humane for those who need our help, tough on those who abuse it.”
Separately, tougher rules will see more claimants subject to “safe return reviews” which could lead to people being sent home if their lives are no longer deemed to be in danger.
The reaction
'A thoroughly chilling and bitter attack'
Theresa May provoked a storm of controversy with her conference speech at the Conservative Party conference.
In an excoriating response to the Home Secretary's address, the Institute of Directors (IoD) accused her of jeopardising Britain's economic recovery with "irresponsible rhetoric and pandering to anti-immigration sentiment".
Charities also lined up to attack Mrs May after she announced a tightening of asylum rules and declared the UK "does not need" large numbers of foreign arrivals, warning they are putting British workers out of a job and forcing down wages.
Home Secretary Theresa May addresses the Conservative Party conference, October 6, 2015Home Secretary Theresa May arrives on stage to address the Conservative Party conference Photo: London News Pictures
However, campaign group Migration Watch UK hailed her speech as "thoroughly courageous".
IoD director general Simon Walker said: "It is yet another example of the Home Secretary turning away the world's best and brightest, putting internal party politics ahead of the country, and helping our competitor economies instead of our own.
"The myth of the job-stealing immigrant is nonsense. Immigrants do not steal jobs, they help fill vital skill shortages and, in doing so, create demand and more jobs. If they did steal jobs, we wouldn't have the record levels of employment we currently do.
"It is about time the Home Office stopped undermining business and our own Government's efforts to secure productivity growth. Political leaders should stop vilifying migrants and acknowledge the hugely important contribution they make to this country's economy."
More (it's a long page, you just want these segments):
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/11913723/david-cameron-conservative-conference-2015-live.html
