Today [Thursday 7th of August], the Conservatives are
calling on the Government to urgently crackdown on asylum seekers
working illegally.
The Conservatives are setting out new proposals that would mean
asylum seeker caught illegally working should have their claim
rejected automatically and face immediate deportation, either to
their country of origin or to a safe third country.
The scale of this failure was laid bare when MP, the Shadow Home Secretary,
exposed this issue after a visit to a taxpayer-funded asylum
hotel in June and found it operating as a delivery hub. Illegal
working was taking place in plain sight, security guards did
nothing, and the platforms continued to profit from this racket
despite previous Home Office agreements.
MP also wrote to Deliveroo,
Just Eat, Uber Eats, and the Home Secretary calling for an
immediate crackdown on illegal working by asylum seekers. His
demands included urgent enforcement against any company failing
to uphold immigration law, the removal of all illegal workers
from delivery platforms, and action to stop illegal working from
Home Office-run asylum accommodation.
The following month, the Home Secretary announced a measly
agreement between delivery companies and the Home Office to share
information on the location of asylum hotels. It does nothing to
punish offenders or close loopholes, such as account sharing, and
therefore, did absolutely nothing to tackle this problem.
Labour's failure to enforce the law is creating a pull factor for
illegal immigration, leading to record crossings, a collapsing
border, and a booming black market in taxpayer-subsidised gig
economy jobs.
That is why the Conservatives are calling for clear, common-sense
action, to shut down the injustice of asylum seekers living off
the taxpayer's dime whilst illegal working.
These measures would make it clear that illegal working while
claiming asylum is a disqualifier in itself, because it is a
criminal offence. The policy would act as a deterrent by
rejecting the asylum claims of those caught working illegally,
seize all wages made through illegal work, ensuring that no one
profits from breaking the law. That money should be reclaimed to
cover the cost of any asylum support received by the individual.
Furthermore, this policy should apply retrospectively, stripping
status from anyone who obtained citizenship or indefinite leave
to remain after working illegally during their asylum claim.
This is the only way to end this farce and remove the illegal
working pull-factor, because if we don't stop this now, we may
never get control back.
MP, Leader of the
Conservative Party, said:
“This is a loophole that rewards illegality, protects
perpetrators, and mocks hard-working taxpayers.
“If you come here illegally, take advantage of our asylum system,
and then break our laws by illegally working – your asylum claim
must be rejected, and you should be on the next plane home. Under
my leadership, the Conservatives will never allow Britain to
become a soft touch for those who think they can break the rules
and profit from it.”
MP, Shadow Home Secretary,
said:
“When I visited an asylum hotel, what I saw shocked me – a
taxpayer-funded base of operations for an underground courier
cartel operating right under this government's nose.
“Illegal working is a pull factor sold by smugglers as a reward
to break into our country and cross the Channel. That is why we
are calling for new action – anyone who plays the system should
have their status stripped, wages confiscated, and be deported.”
ENDS
Notes to
editors:
Please see link to MP's investigation
video
Link here.
-
The number of asylum seekers being housed in hotels is
still higher than when the Conservative Government
left office. The number of asylum seekers being housed
in hotels by 31 March 2025 was 32,345. The number of asylum
seekers being housed in hotels by June 2024 was 29,585 (Home
Office, Accredited Official Statistics, 22 May 2025,
link).
-
The Government's own figures show they still plan to
spend £2.5 billion in 2028-29 on asylum seekers – most of whom
are illegal immigrants. Labour have allocated to
spend a total £20.6 billion on Home Office Departmental
Expenditure Limit and £18.1 billion excluding the asylum
forecast, meaning £2.5 billion in 2028-29 will be spent on
asylum seekers (HMT, Spending Review 2025, 11 June
2025, link).
-
Removals of small boats arrivals are down since the
last quarter under the Conservatives – Labour are only removing
5 per cent of arrivals. 2024 Q3 – 572 small boat
removals compared to 11,755 small boat arrivals. 2024 Q4 - 588
compared to 11,572 arrivals. 2025 Q1 - 482 compared to 6,642
arrivals (Home Office, Accredited Official Statistics,
22 May 2025, link).
