Asylum seekers to have some assets seized to pay for accommodation
A government minister has outlined how asylum seekers could have some of their assets seized to contribute to the cost of supporting them.
Borders minister Alex Norris Norris said it was “right if people have assets that they should contribute” to asylum costs, if for example they had expensive cars or “bags full of gold rings”.
He told Times Radio: “There’s an individual, for example, who’s getting £800 a month from outside the country, who’s just picked himself up an Audi. If people have cars, if they have e-bikes, they should be making a contribution to their support.”
He stressed however that people would not have family heirlooms such as wedding rings removed and told Sky News: “What we’re saying, though, [is] if someone comes over with a bag full of gold rings, well that’s different to, as I say, a family heirloom or personal items.”
(PA Archive)
Athena Stavrou17 November 2025 10:05
Shabana Mahmood ‘highly likely to be the next Labour leader’ if she succeeds in asylum reforms, says Labour MP
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Shabana Mahmood is “highly likely to be the next leader of the Labour Party” if her sweeping reforms to the asylum system succeed, a Labour backbencher has said.
The MP, who spoke anonymously, told The Independent that the new home secretary has “grasped two out of the three things required – she has diagnosed the problem, she has communicated the anger, the politics and the solution”.
But they said the “missing third” is the solution working, adding: “Only time will tell. We now need to frame the Tories as the party who caused the fire, the Reform party who don’t really want the fire to go out and the left wing protest parties saying there isn’t a fire”.
They continued: “If all this comes together – she is highly likely to be the next leader of the Labour Party… but… can the useless Home Office actually deliver?”
(PA Wire)
Athena Stavrou17 November 2025 09:52
What is happening in politics today?
It’s a busy start to the week in politics, with lots of detail and reaction from the government’s new immigration proposals.
At 10am, the prime minister will be holding a Q&A session in Downing Street with apprentices.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is on a visit in the south east this morning also.
At 11am, we’re expected a Reform UK press conference.
The afternoon will see plenty of discussion about the asylum overhaul.
At 2:30pm there will be Home Office questions in the Commons before Shabana Mahmood makes a statement in the chamber at around 3:30pm.
(AFP/Getty)
Athena Stavrou17 November 2025 09:41
Mahmood makes an example of three African countries with visa ban to warn the others
The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
The visa bans for Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo may seem to be random given that many on the small boats are coming from the Middle East.
In a new set of hard line policies the targeting of three unstable African countries wracked by recent wars may look like dog whistling to satisfy the right.
But what the home secretary Shabana Mahmood is attempting to do is to essentially make an international example of these three to scare others into cooperating.
There is a major problem of people moving up from sub Saharan Africa and coming into Europe and to the UK.
For quite a while now UK governments have warned that there would be visa restrictions or bans for countries which did not take back illegal migrants. Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo have all been among the worst at doing that.
Now they are being punished for it in the hope that it will mean they and other countries where the flow of irregular migration is coming from will up their game and start taking people back.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (PA Wire)
Athena Stavrou17 November 2025 09:27
Claims that asylum reforms would sow division are not fair, says Home Office minister
The Independent’s political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:
Claims that the government’s asylum reforms would sow division are not fair, a Home Office minister has said, arguing that the reforms are necessary to restore public confidence.
Asked whether he is concerned that the government’s asylum reforms would encourage people to regard migrants with suspicion, Alex Norris told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I don’t think that’s a fair characterisation at all and that is not the message that we’re expressing. When you have low public confidence, that’s when people start to make perhaps unfair or superficial assessments. If we restore order and control at our borders, it’s the government’s job to do it, then we can have the system we all want.”
Referring to criticism from Labour MP Tony Vaughan, Mr Norris added: “I know I want the same thing that Tony wants, which is a safe system, an ordered system, so people are coming in a controlled way, and is one that meets our decades long commitment as a generous, open tolerant country.”
He added: “We will always stand up for people who need that shelter when they’re fleeing persecution… But to to have that system and to have the public confident in that system, you have to have controls at the border.”
Athena Stavrou17 November 2025 09:09
Analysis: Shabana Mahmood takes centre stage in midst of Labour turmoil
The Independent’s political editor David Maddox reports:
When Keir Starmer did his reshuffle back in September the focus was mostly on the departure of Angela Rayner over her tax affairs but his most significant move was an almost complete overhaul of the Home Office.
Out went Yvette Cooper transferred to the Foreign Office and in came the much more robust, no nonsense Shabana Mahmood as home secretary.
She brought in with her a new attitude of taking on some of the issues which had been considered untouchable by Labour previously.
This included massively watering down human rights, especially the right to family life and the right to asylum to try to tackle the small boats crisis and illegal immigration.
But there is more to it than that.
With Labour in turmoil and Sir Keir’s own position very much in question, the promotion of Ms Mahmood has placed her as potentially the lead figure of the right of the Labour Party’s leadership candidate.
Some wondered why Morgan McSweeney, himself on the right of the party, had turned on Wes Streeting, the previous candidate for that wing, last week.
There is speculation now that he favours Mahmood.
This week she now has the chance to shine as Labour’s answer to the threat posed by Nigel Farage and Reform, and as a potential leader in waiting.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Athena Stavrou17 November 2025 08:55
Recap: Home secretary condemns ‘mortifying’ Labour leadership row as Rayner allies forced to deny new plot
The home secretary has condemned speculation around the Labour leadership as “deeply mortifying” as allies of Angela Rayner were forced to deny a bid to topple the prime minister, just days after the health secretary had to do the same.
Shabana Mahmood said the past week of Labour infighting has been “horribly embarrassing” as she called on ministers to “focus on the job” rather than engage in “tittle tattle”.
You can read the full story below…
Namita Singh17 November 2025 08:40
What you need to know this morning
It’s been a busy start to the week in Westminster, as the government prepares to unveil it’s radical immigration reforms.
Here’s what you need to know this morning:
• The home secretary is set to overhaul human rights laws to make it easier to deport people.
• The government will try to change the way the ECHR is interpreted by UK judges to stop asylum seekers from using their rights to a family life to avoid deportation.
• Shabana Mahmood is also expected to ban three countries – Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo – from accessing UK visas if they fail to take back illegal migrants.
• The home secretary will deliver a statement in the Commons about the reform at 3:30pm.
• There has been discontent on the backbenches, with one Labour MP accusing the party leadership of “chasing Reform”.
• The Refugee Council, a charity advocating on behalf of refugees, warned that watering down these laws risks chaos and will drive desperate people underground, leaving them prone to exploitation.
• Conservative shadow home office minister Matt Vickers has said the Government’s asylum overhaul is “largely gimmicks”.
(via REUTERS)
Athena Stavrou17 November 2025 08:35
Reform to hold press conference
Reform UK are set to hold a press conference this morning, as the government is accused of “chasing” them with their new immigration policies.
The right wing party will speak to media as the home secretary is due to unveil “sweeping” immigration reforms.
One Labour MP accusing the party leadership of “chasing Reform”.
They told The Independent: “The dehumanisation of people in desperation is the antithesis of what the Labour Party is about.”
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaking during a press conference (Stefan Rousseau/PA) (PA Wire)
Athena Stavrou17 November 2025 08:26
Comment: Dare we go the full Danish and make Britain a ‘zero refugee’ zone?
Left-leaning but tough on migration, Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen has taken a hard line on asylum seekers that offers a blueprint for Shabana Mahmood’s shake-up at the Home Office – but, says Mary Dejevsky, she’ll come unstuck if she tries to implement the whole thing
Namita Singh17 November 2025 08:20
